Lexington resident George R. Pryde died August 8, 2020 at home.

The cause of death was plasma cell leukemia.

George was born on July 9, 1938 in Chicago, Ill.

He is predeceased by his parents, James G. Pryde and Louise Rhode Pryde, who were both born in Wyoming.

In 1945, George and his family, which now included younger sister Coralie, returned to Wyoming to the small coal mining camp of Stansbury, one of several small towns that supplied coal for the Union Pacific Railroad. His father serviced the lamps used by the miners, and his mother was a school teacher at the four-room elementary school in Stansbury.

George attended the regional school in Reliance and graduated from there in 1956. He completed ROTC training and graduated in 1960 from the University of Wyoming with a bachelor’'s degree in engineering. He enlisted in the Army and completed Army Intelligence training in Baltimore before serving in South Korea. His Army friends told him that he could have a good career in advertising, so upon returning to the U. S. he moved to New York City, where he enjoyed a long advertising career working at Benton & Bowles.

He married Eleanor "Nona" DeSimini in 1966. Their first son, Reynolds, was born in 1968. The three of them moved to Tokyo, Japan, in 1970 where George furthered his advertising career. His youngest son, Rodney, was born there in 1972. The family returned to the United States in 1974 and settled in Connecticut. After retiring from the advertising industry in 1996, George and Nona moved to Lexington, where they immersed themselves in the community.

George and Nona were both docents at the Stonewall Jackson House for many years, and George continued to volunteer late into his illness. He served one term as vice mayor of Lexington, one term as president of the Lexington Sunrise Rotary Club and was involved in the Fourth of July balloon rallies. He was active in the Lexington area Newcomers Club and was an avid fan of the local Rockbridge area music scene. He was a regular at the Lime Kiln Theatre as well as the morning music group. Some of the other groups he was involved with were The Rockbridge Civil War Roundtable, The English Speaking Union, Rockbridge Historical Society, local area Democratic politics and Historic Lexington Foundation. He was a member of numerous book clubs, and founder of one of them.

George was interested in everything and loved people. He always wanted to be out 'n about, and involved in whatever locally was going on. He appreciated good food, fine wine, single malt scotch, any kind of bourbon or a well-made gin and tonic. He lived on a farm in the country for many years with Nona until her passing, after which he moved into town. Some of George's passions included history, art, gardening, tinkering, intellectual discussions, politics, photography, trains, good IPAs, writing, hiking, nature, socializing... pretty much anything that would get him involved with the community that he loved so much. He volunteered and donated to numerous non-profits and charitable organizations. Close friends describe him as courteous, a good listener and always helpful. He was a person you could count on, a man who did what needed to be done.

George is survived by his son, Rodney and son, Reynolds and his wife; granddaughter, Samantha; and his sister, Coralie.

A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are by Harrison Funeral Home & Crematory.