George Clark Cromer

George Clark Cromer, 91, of Gulf Shores, Alabama, passed away peacefully on Thursday, May 30, 2024. Born on January 7, 1933, in Madison, Wisconsin, George was the beloved only son of Orville and Helen Cromer. Orville played an important role in the development of the diesel engine, perhaps inspiring George to follow a similar path. George's academic and professional journey was distinguished by his passion for excellence and service. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on Automotive Engineering, from Purdue University in 1953. At Purdue, he was a member of the Triangle fraternity and part of the naval ROTC battalion, later serving as an ensign and lieutenant aboard the USS Wren, a Fletcher-class destroyer, in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. In 1957, following his naval service, George pursued further education and obtained a Master’s of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the Chrysler Institute of Engineering, then the leading automotive educational institution. At the early stages of his career, George also pursued additional studies in marketing research at Wayne State University. George's professional career spanned several decades, primarily with General Motors Corporation in Michigan, where he held numerous positions, including Project Engineer and Administrative Engineer. He worked on groundbreaking projects in automotive design and safety, managed technical documentation, and oversaw various administrative functions, including public relations, speech writing, and project management. He retired in 1987 at the age of 54, after which he enjoyed a well-earned rest following a prolific tenure. George married Helen Howard of South Freeport, Maine in 1960, settling in Birmingham, Michigan where they raised five children. After a divorce in 1980, George moved to Warren, Michigan with the love of his life, Julie Stephens Garcia, who had two grown children of her own. The couple married in 1988. They purchased a mid-century modern home in Southfield, where they lived for the next 30+ years before moving full-time to Gulf Shores, Alabama, in 2022. George called travel his and Julie’s ‘big thing.’ In his long life, George visited all of the U.S. states and more than 80 countries. Major trips included spending two months in Zulu, Africa, with University of Glasgow archeologists, six weeks in Cold War Moscow, driving from El Alamein to Damascus and two-tracking in Malawi jungle forests without a map. Talk about adventures! They drove everywhere they could (in their prime logging more than 50,000 miles a year) and never took what he called ‘canned trips.’ George dedicated the rest of his time to exploring the numerous hobbies and interests that he shared with Julie, which included delving into his Manx heritage, garden and landscape design, model railroading, and raising and showing prize-winning English bulldogs. George followed in his father’s footsteps as a contributing editor to the Encyclopedia Britannica. He served as a trustee and elder of the Presbyterian Church and as a Commissioner for the Boy Scouts. He was also deeply committed to the mission of bulldog rescue, rehoming more than 120 dogs in Michigan. George held numerous leadership and editorial positions with organizations such as the Bulldog Club of America and the Society of Automotive Engineers. George is remembered for his significant contributions to the automotive industry, his service to his country, and his facile and wide-ranging intelligence. He leaves behind a legacy of innovation, service, and love. He is survived by his loving wife Julie, his seven children, thirteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

Tributes

George Clark Cromer

January 7, 1933 - May 30, 2024