WORCESTER – George Baden Gamble, Jr., 84, treasured father to Laura-Lee and Wendy, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2018 after a long illness. Born in Worcester on December 7, 1933, he was the son of Sigrid (Lundquist) Gamble and George B. Gamble, Sr. He attended Worcester Boys Trade School and honorably served in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He married Lorraine A. Gendron of Sutton upon his discharge and settled down to raise a family. He was predeceased by Lorraine in 1995.
George retired from Worcester Wire where his specialty was the production of violin wire. He was also an entrepreneur as the sole owner of Gamble Trucking, taking great pride in his red dump truck. His girls delighted in their role as helpers on the weekends. He was a longtime member of the First Baptist Church in Worcester and was a mason for 50 years with the Morning Star Lodge of Auburn.
An avid golfer, he could be seen on the links of Hillcrest and Dunroamin Country Clubs. He was a farmer at heart, boarding Hereford cattle out of town which were visited during his famous family Sunday drives. He was a skilled gardener, whether raising a perfect tomato or those yellow roses that won a blue ribbon at the Worcester Horticultural Society’s annual flower show. He also enjoyed ice fishing, which was always a family outing complete with skates, grill and home movie camera. Snow mobiling trips included pulling the caboose for his girls. His best times were spent with his family, whether at home or on vacation, to the wilderness of a fishing lake in Canada or to the shores of Nantucket Sound in Chatham.
Upon retirement George and Lorraine moved to northern Vermont and settled on a bucolic 55 acres which included a sugar shack for maple syrup production, and plenty of room to raise pigs. He made a large circle of friends and was known for his delicious home-made chili during the weekly card parties.
He joined the First Congregational Church of Dudley after returning to Massachusetts where he was a devoted volunteer, always available to work the chowder booth at the Woodstock Fair, peel potatoes for a turkey supper, bring a truck full of Christmas wreaths for the holiday fair, and organize and fund a pig roast at the church. He had a close relationship with Pastor John White and his wife Sarah and was blessed to meet with them shortly before his passing.
A die-hard Red Sox fan, his joy was unsurpassed when finally “the curse was reversed” in 2004. Subsequent World Series Championships were enjoyed in equal measure. He also cheered for the New England Patriots and their multiple Super Bowl wins but bemoaned the fact “there were too many night games because they win so much.”
George is survived by his daughters Laura-Lee Carey and her husband Greg of Dudley, and Wendy Gamble and her husband Rory Fitzgerald of South Chatham; a granddaughter, Megan Carey and her husband Jay Carlson; a grandson, Baden Jaye Gamble Carey, all of Dudley; two great-granddaughters, Bellalorraine Carey-Hicks and Wren Carey-Carlson; his beloved long-time companion, Jacqueline Nichols of Worcester and her sons Brett and Jimmy, along with their families; his sisters and brothers-in-law, along with many nephews and nieces. He was pre-deceased by his sister Jane O’Brien.
The family wishes to extend their gratitude for the comfort and care provided by Dr. Tony Samaha and Dr. John Platt along with the staff of The St. Vincent Cancer and Wellness Center, and also by the staff at Lanessa Extended Care for the past month.
A service to celebrate George’s life will take place at noon on Saturday, June 16, in the First Congregational Church of Dudley, 135 Center Road, Dudley. The Masonic Lodge will perform its ritual at 11:45 AM in the church prior to the service. Burial will be held privately. The family will receive relatives and friends in the church from 10:30 to 11:45 AM Saturday, June 16, prior to the services. Donations in his name may be made to ether the Cape Cod Commercial Fisherman’s Alliance, 1566 Main Street, Chatham, MA 02633 or to The First Congregational Church of Dudley, 135 Center Road, Dudley, MA 01571. Arrangements are under the direction of Sitkowski & Malboeuf Funeral Home, 340 School Street, Webster.