George Walter Faulkner, Jr.

George was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and so many other roles he played throughout his life. Very dedicated to his daily devotion. Very loyal to our family. Raised by a single mother, Eileen Faulkner along with his sister, Juanita. His mother remarried Al Strubler and he was a real blessing and role model to George. Half brothers, Albert and Don came into the family. George went from a one room garage apartment without warm water to having a room of his own and a person who taught him so many things.

George graduated as an Industrial Engineer from Georgia Tech, Atlanta. When he was attending UT, Knoxville for his Master of Science he taught undergraduate classes in industrial Engineering at Oak Ridge, and he met Miss Kitty Kuykendall who became his girlfriend, fiancée and bride of 58 years. George worked for DuPont in Martinsville, VA for five years and went with FMC where he worked for over 35 years and got his MBA from West Virginia Graduate Studies. Kitty and George lived in Sevier County for early retirement for 20 years in a modest cabin in the woods on Douglas Lake. George’s health problems led them to Maryville, TN five years ago. George was a member of First United Methodist in Sevierville, Shady Grove Methodist in Dandridge and currently First United Methodist Church/Maryville. Kitty and George are lifelong Christians. They had two children, Tammy (who died from cancer in 2015) and George Walter Faulkner III (Walt); two grandchildren, Brandon and Amanda; son-in-law, Michael Nance.

George gave Kitty this poem one day when he told her he was ready to go, and he had more pain than he could bear that he knew where he was going and wanted her to understand.

When Tomorrow Starts Without Me

When tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand. That an angel came and called my name and took me by the hand. The angel said my place was ready, in Heaven far above and that I’d have to leave behind those I dearly love. But when I walked through Heaven’s Gates, I felt so much at home, for God looked down, smiled at me, and said “Welcome Home”. So, when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we’re far apart, for every time you think of me, I’m right there in your heart.