George Bernard Jenista
LCDR, George Bernard Jenista, USN-Retired, age 87, went to be with the Lord on Monday, December 13, 2021, in Granbury. He was born February 3, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois to James and Josephine Weise Jenista. He was the 4th son. His father was employed as a policeman with the city of Cicero and was killed in the line of duty when George was only 5 months old. The family moved to Brookfield, Illinois. With rental income, factory work, and her $84 per month pension, Mrs. Jenista held the family together.
From the age of 10 George worked for the Brookfield News Agency. He eventually drove a truck for the company mornings (before school) and on weekends to supplement the home income.
When he started college, he obtained a second job with the Railway Mail Service at Air Mail Field, Chicago. In addition, he won a Newspaper Distributors Association Scholarship which helped pay part of his college tuition. He continued this pace for 3 years — going to work at 5am, then driving to school at Illinois Institute of Technology, where he majored in Mechanical Engineering. Each day he also worked at Air Mail Field (airport) from 5pm to 11pm.
George joined the Naval Aviation Cadet Program in 1954 and earned his Navy Wings on April 5th, 1956. He married Patricia Prescott later that same night. George placed 3rd in his preflight class and was honored as “Student of the Week” in basic training.
His first Navy assignment was to Whidbey Island Naval Air Station, Washington. The squadron deployed to Alaska, Japan, Hawaii, and all the Western and Northern Pacific. He became the squadron’s youngest patrol plane commander flying the P2V aircraft.
His next assignment was at the US Naval School Preflight, Pensacola, Florida. He served as an instructor of Aerodynamics for 3 years.
His next duty was with an Air-Antisubmarine Squadron at Quonset Point, Rhode Island, flying off the carriers USS Essex, USS Randolph, and USS Lexington. He qualified as Landing Signal Officer, Carrier Antisubmarine Plane Commander and Officer of the Deck Underway on the 40,000-ton carrier USS Essex. He served as Safety Officer, Assistant Operations and Administrative Officer, and Public Information Officer.
As Public Information Officer, he participated in the North Atlantic “Show the Flag” cruise to all NATO ports in the North Atlantic.
After this tour, he was selected for jet transition and ordered to the Naval Air Technical Training Center, Glynco, Georgia. His duties were to fly the North American 265 Sabreliner in support of training Radar Intercept Officers for the F-4 program.
He was discharged from US Navy active duty in December 1968 with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
In 1969, George joined General Mills as a corporate pilot in Minneapolis, Minnesota. During his 25-year career at General Mills, he flew the Douglas DC-3, The Israeli Industries Westwind, several models of the Lockheed JetStar, and the Citation III, V, VII, and X. He piloted these aircraft all over the world.
Over the course of his corporate career, he received numerous Flight Safety and National Business Aircraft Association Awards for safety and excellence.
George retired as General Mills’ Director of Aviation in 1994 (age 60), having administered the company’s corporate aviation program, managing over 2 dozen aircraft with General Mills and its subsidiary firms.
George stayed busy in retirement as a flight instructor and Sunday school teacher as well as singing in the choir. He also was a frequent visitor to Granbury High School, talking to the students in the Aviation Department about careers in flying.
In 2005, George was the proud recipient of the Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award for having over 50 years of accident-free flying both military and civilian.
He was a member of Acton Baptist Church, teaching Sunday school for the Agape Class as well as proudly singing in the choir.
George was preceded in death by his parents, a granddaughter, Melissa Jenista, and two brothers, Joseph Jenista and James Jenista.
He is survived by his wife of 65 ½ years, Patricia (Pat) Jenista; son, George Walter Jenista and wife Bonny; daughter, Winifred (Winnie) Jenista-Durham and husband Tim; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, his brother John, age 92; numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Visitation was held from 5pm. to 7pm. on Friday, December 17, 2021, at Wiley Funeral Home in Granbury.
Funeral services were held at 11am. on Saturday, December 18, 2021, at Acton Baptist Church, 3500 Fall Creek Hwy. Granbury, 76049. Graveside services and burial with Full Military Honors following at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas.