George Frederick Reitmeier, Jr., passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, May 3, 2026, he was 100 years, 11 months.

Mr. Reitmeier was born in Buffalo, NY to the late George Frederick Reitmeier, Sr.  and Mary Elizabeth Lewandowski Reitmeier. He attended the University of Missouri enrolled in the Army Specialized Training program and from there basic training at Fort Benning. He served with the Black Panther 66th Infantry Division, F Company, 264th Infantry Regiment, 66th Infantry Division. The 66th boarded the SS Leopoldville on December 24th 1944 to cross the English channel as reinforcements for the ongoing Battle of the Bulge. The SS Leopoldville was torpedoed on its way to Cherbourg, France and subsequently sank, taking the lives of 763 Soldiers. George was one of the few that survived the sinking of that Belgian ocean liner. George was later stationed near Lorient, France keeping German forces from advancing further into France. After the end of the war, George remained in France assisting with moving troops back stateside and later went to Linz Austria to build a camp for displaced persons.

Once back in the states, George attended the University of Buffalo and Rensselaer Polytechnic University receiving a Masters degree in Engineering. He was a co-founder of Birdair Structures, Inc.,and developed a consulting business in forensic investigation. He had an interest in steam locomotion and built a steam-driven vehicle on his own.

As a WWII veteran, he was active in sharing his story and participating in veteran reunions and memorial events as recently as 2024 and early 2025. George was the last surviving member of the 66th division that was on the S.S. Leopoldville  On December 11, 2023, George was honored with the French Legion of Honor for his service to France during World War II. He also participated in a 2023 and 2024 trip to Normandy for WWII veterans with the Best Defense Foundation.

Surviving, Faith Elizabeth Kemmit Reitmeier, son, George “Skip” F. Reitmeier, III; two daughters, Pattie Farlow with husband “Kip” and Mary Beth Moss with husband, Stone; a sister-in-law, Barbara Reitmeier; three grandchildren, Zachary Reitmeier with wife, Lisa, Sara Katherine Petite with husband, Justin and Kyle Reitmeier with wife, Maggie; and seven great-grandchildren, Ella Reitmeier, Avery Reitmeier, Logan Petite, Eliza Petite, Jack Petite, Riggs Reitmeier, and Molly Roe Reitmeier. He was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth Reitmeier; a sister, Lois Carey; a daughter-in-law, Ellin Reitmeier; and a  brother-in-law, David Carey. George was the last surviving member of his siblings.

A committal service with military honors will be held 2:00 PM, Friday, June 12, 2026 at M.J. Dolly Cooper Veteran's Cemetery in Anderson, S.C. A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 13, 2026 at Joy Lutheran Church in Moore, SC at 4:00 PM.