Services: A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 3:00PM in the St. Nicholas Chapel, Patuxent Naval Air Station, with Father Mike Dolan officiating. Interment will be private. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Wednesday, November 27th, 2013 at 2 PM in St. Paul’s Cathedral, San Diego, with Rev. Laurel Matthewson officiating. Internment will be private. George Francis Kilian, 65, of California, MD, passed away peacefully at his residence on September 22, 2013. George was the first child born to Mildred Hull Kilian and Frank Kilian on July 11, 1948 in Moscow, ID. His parents had met a few years earlier while serving in WWII. Following the War, they moved to the Northwest where Mildred’s family lived. They enrolled at the University of Idaho on the GI bill and George was born during their undergraduate years. George enjoyed a close, loving relationship with his grandparents, George and Selma Hull of Harrison, ID. After George’s brother Fred was born, the family moved to Bermuda where his father worked as an electrical engineer; he would later say these were some of the happiest years of his childhood. He loved to build model airplanes and was always working on a kit of some sort. When the family relocated to Spokane, WA George became an altar boy and developed a love for jazz. He was a natural trumpet player and played in nightclubs while a teenager. George graduated from high school in 1966, married Gloria Bonenko and enlisted in the US Navy. Shortly thereafter, he went through basic training and served in Vietnam. Upon his honorable discharge from the Navy, George enrolled at Eastern Washington State College where he earned a BA in Business in 1973. This was an extremely busy but happy time for the young couple as their four children were born between 1967 and 1977. George and Gloria enjoyed family life and worked many hours making each house a home; George using his exceptional carpentry skills to finishing basements, build furniture and fences while Gloria decorated the house and made crafts. He enjoyed taking the kids on Sunday drives in the family’s 1966 GTO. George loved to cook and was quite experimental at times, the kids affectionately calling his creations “Dad cooking.” During these years, George worked in sales for Litton Industries, Monroe Calculators and with his cousin and uncle at Pallett Motors in the Spokane Valley. In January of 1982, George received his commission in the US Navy. For the next 28 years, he had a celebrated career as an AMDO, retiring as a Captain in 2010. During this time, he served on the USS Constellation, CV 64, Coronado, CA; Fighter Squadron 124 at Miramar, CA; Fighter Squadron 51 at Miramar, CA; COMFITAEWWINGPAC / COMFITWINGPAC at Miramar, CA; Earned a MS in Management with an emphasis in Material Logistics at Naval Postgraduate School, Monterrey, CA; USS Abraham Lincoln, CVN 72, Bremerton/Everett, WA; Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center, Fallon, NV; USS Kittyhawk, CV 63, Yokosuka, Japan; Naval Air Systems Command, Air 3.1.1D, Patuxent River River, MD; Naval Air Systems Command, AIR 3.1A, Patuxent River, MD; PMA 260, Patuxent River, MD; Naval Yard, Washington, D.C. George said that his children and grandchildren had been the highlight of his life. He cherished the times when the family was together and always wanted to know how everyone was doing. A loving role model for his kids, George was never one to gossip, always said “I love you”, gave hugs, had a strong work ethic, promoted family harmony, was quick to forgive, respected human dignity, and was always ready to have a good time with song and dance. George leaves behind son, Jeffrey Kilian, his wife, Michaele and their daughters, Katie, Claire and Mary of Port Hueneme, CA; daughter, Christine Kilian Thompson, her husband, Kurt and their daughters, Georgia and Ella of San Diego, CA; daughter Angela Kilian Record, her husband, Denis and their children Zachary and Gracie of San Diego, CA (base of Mt. Helix); and son, Andrew Kilian, his wife, Kelly and their children, Connor, Owen and Molly of Orange County, CA. George is also survived by brothers, Fred Kilian and Alan Smith of Spokane, WA; beloved step mother, Joan Kilian of Spokane, WA; wife, Tanya, and former wife and lifelong friend, Gloria Kilian of Liberty Lake, WA. George’s sense of humor, kindness, and compassion will be missed by all that knew and loved him.

George Francis Kilian, 65, of California, MD, passed away on September 22, 2013 at his residence. Born on July 11, 1948 in Moscow, ID, he was the son of the late Frank B. and Mildred Hull Kilian. George was the loving husband of Tanya P. Kilian. George is survived by his children; Jeffrey Kilian of Port Hueneme, CA, Christine Thompson of San Diego, CA, Angela Record of El Cajon, CA, and Andrew Kilian of Orange County, CA, and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers; Fred Kilian and Alan Smith both of Spokane, WA. Mr. Kilian graduated from University High School in 1966 and went on to graduate from Naval Post Graduate School in 1995with a Masters in Logistics. George served in the United States Navy for 32 years; he entered into service in 1966 and retired in 2010 as a Captain. Mr. Kilian served on NAS Miramar, USS Constellation, and the USS Lincoln. He was a member of the Toastmasters, and Jaycees, he enjoyed woodworking, carpentry, running, jazz, visiting family and friends. A Memorial Mass will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2013 at 3:00 PM in St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Patuxent River, MD with Father Mike Dolan officiating. Interment will be private. Arrangements by Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.