George Francis Polk Sr., 75

DOVER - George Francis Polk Sr., departed this life on Monday, April 13, 2009. He was 75. Polk, as he was often called, was born June 30, 1933, to the late Della Polk Moore. He was a Korean War veteran. He worked for many years at the Dover Air Force Base Mortuary as a mortuary technician, also drove trucks while working at the Air Force Base as well as driving school buses. He also owned auction houses in both Dover and Ohio for several years. Polk drove, trained and owned race horses all of his life. He loved his horses as well as enjoyed baseball. He was a member of the Delaware Trotting Association, the Dover Little League, where he assisted as Coach and served on the Little League Board. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his first wife, Elise Gray-Polk; one son, Ward Steven Smith; one grandson, Keylund Bailey; and one granddaughter, Jessica Smith. He leaves to mourn his death one son, George and Pam Polk of Dover; eight daughters, Karen and Charles Gibbs and Deborah and John Pringle, all of Bridgeville, Kimberly and Raymond Johnson of Lincoln, Lisa Sylvain of Seaford, Laura Smith of Smyrna, Angela Smith of Dover, Christina and Joe Scott of Harrington, and Jorja Polk of Felton; eight step-children, Jackie and Melvin Goodwin, Carolyn and Claudius Grant, all of Bridgeville, Ralph Collie of Lincoln, William Norman of Greenwood, Lucille and Elbert Chesson, and Alice Norman, all of Roper, N.C., Gladys Russ, of Harrington, and Susan Blackwell of Dover; 23 grandchildren, one very special grandson, Marquis Boyer-Smith; 24 step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; a host of other relatives; and his special friends, Annie Mae Polk, Pat Homan and Laura Smith. Memorial services with military honors were held in the Chapel of the Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Patriots Way, Millsboro on Friday, April 17, 2009. Arrangements by McKnatt, Carpenter & Baker Funeral Home, Harrington.