George Edward Packard

George Edward Packard

May 29, 1942 – July 20, 2023

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Ed was adopted into a family with one older brother, David. Later in life he met some of his biological family, two sisters, Marlene and Jan. Ed found his birth mother and step father and he saw to it that they were taken care of in their elderly years.

He grew up on a small farm in Tacoma, much like the one he lived on for the last 30 plus years. He loved his farm, goats, llama, chickens, and gardening. Most of all, he loved to share all his produce and meats with people he loved.

When he was a teenager he met a pastor and his family, (two girls) at Mt View Baptist in Tacoma and spent a lot of time with them. During that time, he heard them talk about the rapture and what would take place. Then one day he stopped by their home and the door was open, but no one was home. He walked from the parsonage to the church, it was open, but no one was there. He immediately assumed that the rapture must have taken place and was totally terrified that he’d been left behind. Shortly after that, he became a born again Christian.

Ed was diversified; he worked as a telegrapher for the railroad, a

volunteer police officer in Portland, and a semi-pro ice hockey player. They told him he was too short to play hockey but he said it came in very handy!

He attended Centralia Community College in 1962 where he met Sam Gaffney, Loren Wolffe, Allen Scott, and Ron Gregory. They ended up touring from Washington to California singing in a gospel quartet called “The Gospel Choralairs.” In the spring of 1963, the group cut a record, Ed was the 1st tenor. Sam and Ed became very close friends and did a lot together. They went places in Ed’s old pickup, sometimes singing at the top of their lungs. He warned Sam that he was on probation so he couldn’t do anything to “mess up.” We never knew what he was on probation for…

He studied Psychology in college and graduated from Western Seminary in Portland, OR. He was a very hard worker in school and did well.

Ed got all excited about a new muffin that one of the local restaurants had just put on their menu. Ended up being what they now call English Muffins!

Ed was a faithful man of God, a great friend to all, a wonderful pastor, and had a heart of gold. He has helped so many in his churches, taken them on as his own, and loved them.

He pastored several churches, both as a permanent and interim pastor. The last church he pastored on a permanent basis was Delta Community Baptist Church of Everett. He will be greatly missed by the members of Second Baptist Church where he served as an Associate Minister in his later years.

Ed is survived by his sister Janet Thomsen of Buffalo, NY; many cousins, nieces and nephews; his good friends Sharon Ellis of Centralia, WA, and Peggy Thompson of Everett, WA, and a host of other friends and family.

Written by one of his favorite people, Gina summed a lifetime of lessons in these words:

Believe Own Up Serve Protest Sustain

Grow Prepare Protect Sing Write

Work Hard Re-use Read Respect Let Go

Appreciate Forgive Indulge Stop PRAY

Laugh Repent Refrain Listen

He will be greatly missed!