Crossville, TN - George Edward Hurd Chard passed away on May 5, 2026, at Cumberland Medical Center in Crossville.

Born March 21, 1940, in Chicago, IL, he graduated from Elmwood Park High School and the University of Illinois, completing the PhD in speech and theater at Northwestern University. He taught at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, GA, where he also directed plays and oral interpretation presentations at Chattahoochee Valley Community College in Phenix City, AL, and Truett McConnell College in Cleveland, GA. While in Phenix City he also served as mayor of the city. He served in the U.S.Marine Corps Reserve after boot camp at Parris Island.

George was a person of deep faith and shared his faith in God at every opportunity. He loved people and never met a stranger as evidenced by the amount of time he spent in the grocery store just talking to folks. He could fix almost anything and when he was in good health he enjoyed what he called "just piddling around" in his workshop. He lived on a golf course but he remained puzzled as to why anybody liked to play golf. He loved to hunt golf balls in the yard, saying that was his golf game.

George leaves his wife Ann of 42 years and his two cats, Gracie and Snoopy, to carry on in his absence until they are called to join him.

He is also survived by his younger sister, Dottie (Tom); niece, Colleen (Randy); and nephew, Tim (Lisa).

He treasured his two daughters, Kim (Henry); and Kristi, (Gregg); and his grandchildren, Gregory, John Oliver, Russel, Brigitte (Moises); and Ottoniel (Yesicka), whom he prayed for often each by name in the morning until the eggs got cold.

He will be missed. A memorial service for George will be held on Saturday, June 6, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Crossville First Methodist Church.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in George's memory may be made to Gideons International (P.O. Box 140800, Nashville,TN 37214) or to Crossville First Methodist Church, 100 Braun St. Crossville, TN 38555.

Neptune Society was in charge of arrangements.