George Thurman Hanks Jr.

Hanks, George Thurman, Jr. of Chelsea, Alabama, passed away at the age of 88 on March 2, 2022. We will say, “See you later,” to GT at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, AL, on Tuesday, March 8. Visitation will begin at 10:30, with the service starting at 11:30. Immediately following the service, he will be laid to rest with Mary at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo with military honors. Bolton Funeral Home is directing. Pallbearers are Pelham Pimperl, Steve Smith, Reagan Pimperl, Hunter Hanks, David Hyche, and Jason Smiley. The family kindly requests that masks be worn during the visitation portion of his services inside the church to protect his family members who live with compromised immune systems and the elderly. Masks may be removed during the funeral service. He led a most interesting life, which he chronicled in his book, An Alabama Farm Boy’s Life, published in 2019. GT was born in Cherokee County, Alabama, to George Thurman Hanks and Nora Venona Lovelace Hanks as an only son, with five older sisters who all predeceased him—Willie, Mattie Lou, Floyce, Lorene, and Clara. Left to cherish his memory are his four children, Judy (Pelham) Pimperl, Becky (Steve) Smith, Harold (Valerie) Hanks, and Jerry Hanks. He leaves twelve precious grandchildren—Autumn, John Jr, and Reagan; Tyler and Casey; Delisca, Leslie, Heather, Emerson, and Hunter; Mary Rose and Justin. Each one loved their Granddad and “Abuelo” as he was known to the youngest two. He was the proud great grandfather to nine. He also leaves behind a red 1967 Mustang convertible that he loved like another child. GT proudly served his country in the Air Force during the Korean War in a Nuclear Deterrent Squadron, stationed near London, England. The Lord watched over him through several near-death incidents. He was widowed in 2010 when he lost the love of his life, Mary. They celebrated 52 beautiful years together before God called her home. GT loved people and people loved him. In his later years, he adored the company of his friends at the Chelsea Senior Center where he flirted with the ladies, enjoyed good food, and played Dominoes. At home, he enjoyed tinkering with his old cars and most recently, his vintage Ford truck that he had started restoring. (His two sons plan to complete that for him.) In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his name to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation at 2361 Hyman Blvd., Staten Island, NY. 10306. Please sign online condolences at www.boltonfuneralhome.com. September 13, 1933 - March 2, 2022 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”