George W. Mole, Lawrence
Services for George W. Mole, 89, Lawrence, will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Mole died Monday, Feb. 14, 2005, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
He was born June 7, 1915, in San Jose, Costa Rica, the son of Lewis and Ida Hayden Mole. He moved from San Jose to Lawrence in 1924.
Mr. Mole was a machinist at Kansas University and retired in 1981. He was a member of Lawrence Lodge No. 6 A.F. and A.M., where he served as master in 1953, secretary from 1954 to 1982, district deputy grand master in 1967 and district lecturer from 1984 to 1990. He was a member of Adah Chapter No. 7 Order of the Eastern Star, where he served as worthy patron in 1954 and 1974 and proficiency examiner in 1983 and 1984.
He was a member of the Scottish Rite Free Masonry, Valley of Lawrence, where he was knight commander court of honor in 1961, inspector general honorary 33rd degree Mason in 1975 and chairman inspector general advisory conference in 1983. He was a member Lawrence York Rite Bodies since 1975, where he served as high priest in 1980 and 1988, illustrious master in 1978, commander in 1981, K.Y.C.H. in 1984 and Red Cross of Constantine in 1988.
Mr. Mole was a member of the High Twelve Club International and DeMolay Legion of Honor in 1988. He received the Grand Cross of Color from the International Order of Rainbow Girls. He was appointed by special designation to be representative of the Grand Master of Kansas to the Grand Lodge of Costa Rica. He was a 60-year member of Plymouth Congregational Church. He maintained a commercial iris garden for many years and participated in mushroom hunting excursions with the Mycological Society. He was a volunteer for Senior Services.
He married Betty J. Jones on May 5, 1942, in Lawrence. She survives, of the home.
Other survivors include two daughters, Nancy L. Hempen, Greeley, Colo., and Georgia E. Smith of Elburn, Ill.; two sisters, Evelyn Curtis, Williamsburg, Va., and Frances Benson, Kalispell, Mont.; eight grandsons; and five great-grandchildren.
A son, Ronald, died in 1992.
The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at the mortuary.
The family suggests memorials to Trinity Respite Care, Kansas Masonic Foundation or the George Mole memorial garden, sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary.
Online condolences may be sent to info@warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Mole.