GEORGE DANIEL BEITZEL

(Born: October 24, 1907 - Died: January 21, 1996)

(Aged:88)

George Beitzel was born in Perkins, California on October 24,1907 . He died on Sunday, January 21,1996, when he was 88 of Parkinson's disease. His family moved to the Sheldon area around 1909. He graduated from the University of California in 1929. After, he moved to the family ranch near the Cosumnes River in Sheldon. George married Maeola Eastburn on February 6,1937 in the town of Santa Rosa. They were married 59 years at the time of his death.

George farmed hops and later pears until the early 1960's. Hops was a very important crop in the Elk Grove area in the 1930's and 1940's. George was active in hop disease research with U. C. Davis and in the Hop Growers of America. He introduced hop growing to the Mexican Government. He was very active in his community of Elk Grove. He was on the board of Trustees for both Pleasant Grove School and Union Grammar School for 33 years. The job George liked the most was when he was a volunteer firefighter from 1936 to 1958.

George was a avid hunter. He loved to hunt duck and upland birds. He was a fisherman and also a abalone diver. George loved to travel with his wife Maeola. They traveled extensively around the United States and throughout Europe.

Maeola and George had two children, George III and Paul. They also have two grandchildren, Sheldon and Eric.

This information was obtained from Mrs. Maeola Beitzel , the wife of George, and from the Elk Grove Citizen, (January 24,1996).