Thomas George Chase

George Chase September 28, 1911 - October 21, 2012 Judge George Chase of Waco died peacefully Sunday night, October 21, 2012, at the age of 101. Services will be 4:00 p.m., Thursday, October 25, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Chuck Treadwell and the Rev. Mike Attas, M.D., officiating. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 24, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. He was born September 28, 1911 in Memphis, Tennessee. Judge Chase attended elementary school in Lucy, Tennessee, Central High School in Memphis, and graduated from the University of Arkansas. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living graduate of the University of Arkansas School of Law. Judge Chase moved to Waco in 1940 and met his wife of 71 years, Ellender Stribling Chase. They were married in 1941. He served in the Second World War in the United States Navy, including time aboard a ship under the flag of the Royal Navy of the United Kingdom. He was commended for his service at the Battle of Sicily. From 1940 to 1956 he owned and operated the Chase Bottling Company. In 1956, he joined the Waco law firm that eventually became Naman Howell Smith and Chase. In his legal career, he was admitted to the State Bars of Arkansas, Tennessee, and Texas. He was a member of the State Bar of Texas for over 50 years. In 1976, Judge Chase became of counsel at his law firm in order to focus on his farming and ranching. He was elected to the Waco City Council from 1978-1980, including serving as Mayor in 1980. In 1982, he was appointed an Associate Justice of the Texas 10th Court of Appeals and from 1985-2007 he served as the Chairman of Insurors Indemnity Company. In his later years, Judge Chase enjoyed raising goats, sheep, and cattle on his ranch in Bosque County. He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister, and is survived by his sister, Frances Ann Straight. He is survived by his spouse and their three sons, Tom Chase and wife, Penny Chase, Davis Chase, and Jim Chase and wife, Mary Lacy Clifton Chase. He is also survived by his four grandchildren, George Chase and wife, Cara, Felicia Chase Goodman and husband, Somers, Jamey Chase, and Grace Chase. He has four great-grandchildren, Claire Chase, Ellie Chase, Helen Goodman and Daisy Goodman. Pallbearers will be Ken Sanders, Johnny Griffis, Tim Kohn, Don Davis, Albert Witcher, Bill Clifton, and Jim Clifton. Honorary pallbearers are Hal Stringer, Wilbur Ball, Mark Deering, Cullen Smith, the members and employees of Naman, Howell, Smith and Lee, and all his friends at WRS Athletic Club. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Waco Foundation or a preferred charity. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.