Obituary of George Bausch Waters

George Bausch Waters, 97, died Monday, July 2 2018. Born on Sunday, 4 July 1920, in Syracuse, NY, he was the son of the late Louis Addison Waters and the late Mildred Elaine (Bausch) Waters. He is survived by his wife of 74 years, Shirley Kessinger (Barnard) Waters. Both Shirley and George Waters graduated from Nottingham High School in Syracuse and from Syracuse University in 1943. Waters received a Bachelor of Arts in Radio Communications from Syracuse University where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon. During summers he worked at Crucible Steel in Syracuse and announced evenings on WSYR radio. Shirley and George were married September 23, 1943. Following graduation he attended Army basic training in Fort Benning, GA and infantry anti-tank school at Ft. Gruber, OK. He was assigned to the 222nd Regiment of the 42nd Division with service in the south of France where he received a field promotion to Captain. Waters served in Salzburg, Austria, during the occupation following the war. Returning to Rome, Waters joined the Rome Sentinel Company June 10, 1947, became assistant general manager in 1954, general manager in 1960, publisher in 1964, becoming president of the company in 1969 until 2011. In addition to his wife, Waters is survived by one sister, Elizabeth Elaine McNish; five children, Peter Barnard Waters and his wife Carolyn (Mates) of Mount Pleasant, SC, Stephen Bradley Waters and his wife Wendy Beth (Williams) of Rome, NY, Nancy Kessinger Waters of Worcester, MA, Kristin Benton Waters of Worcester, MA, and Dean Lincoln Waters and his wife Kim (Williams) of Saratoga Springs, NY; nine grandchildren and six step-grandchildren. Waters was preceded in death by two brothers, Louis Addison Waters Jr., and Robert Benton Waters, and a daughter-in-law, Irene (Eggan) Waters. Waters served on the board of directors of the N.Y. State Photonics Development Corporation, trustee of Stevens-Kingsley Foundation, Kirkland College, and Utica College Foundation. He was a founder and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Rome Art and Community Center, president of the Jervis Library Association and helped plan the 1961 Jervis Library addition that now serves as its main location. In 1987 he received the Rome Historical Society's Medal of 1777, which honors citizens who have given outstanding community service and he and his wife, Shirley, received the first Saul Lazovik Service to the Arts Award for their support of the arts. He was honorary commander of the Northeast Defense Sector and 416th Medical Group. Waters served on the Rome City School District Board of Education, the Rome Hospital Board of Managers, the board of the Mid-York Library System, and the boards of the Central Association of the Blind, Oneida National Bank (later Norstar Bank), Rome Savings Bank, the Legal Aid Society, the United Way, Rome Industrial Development Corporation, and Oneida County Industrial Development Corporation. He served as president of Junior Achievement in 1964. Waters was a member of First Presbyterian Church and a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary Club. Funeral services will be private. Relatives and friends may call at Barry Funeral Home, 807 W. Chestnut St., Friday, July 6, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Burial with military honors will be held in Rome Cemetery. Please offer online tributes or light a candle at: www.BarryFuneralHome.com.