George Alma Waite

George Alma Waite, 88, passed away Monday, December 29, 2025 in Tucson Arizona. George was the first child born to Ida Fay Davis and Joy William Waite. He arrived on June 6, 1937 in St. Johns, Arizona.

George was preceded in death by his wife, Erma, his sister, Janice, his parents and his grandson, David.

As a child, he enjoyed the outdoors and all that could be learned in nature. As a young man he developed a love of cars, buying his first car, a model A Ford at 15. He became quite a gear-head building hot rod engines and fine-tuning cars to run so smooth you could balance a dime edgewise on the hood. Optimizing automobile performance and repairing them was one of his life-time passions.

George parlayed his love of cars into his career. Early on, even before he finished schooling, he began teaching auto mechanics at Utah Trade Technical Institute (now Utah Valley University).He also taught at Viewmont High School and Hillcrest High School. He was an excellent teacher; his high school students graduated directly into certified mechanic positions at local dealerships. He was also very competitive in nature. He entered his advanced auto-mechanics students in the annual Plymouth trouble shooting contests. Every year his students won the local competitions and advanced to the National Finals in Indianapolis, Indiana (at the Indy 500). More years than not, George and his students won the national contest. If they did not win, they always finished in the top three. He graduated from Brigham Young University in 1966 with a BA in Industrial Education.

George served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Northern California; from October 1957 to October 1959 where he made many lifelong friends. He faithfully served in the church in many callings. He served in two bishoprics, as the high priest group leader, various clerk positions, bishop’s storehouse director, scout leader and his favorite, gospel doctrine teacher.

George married the love of his life, Erma Wilkins in 1961. Together they raised seven children who gave them thirty grandchildren, forty-nine great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild. They loved dancing together to old time country western music, especially Patsy Cline and Jim Reeves.

He loved and missed St. Johns so in 1977 he switched careers and moved back with his family happily in tow. He was employed as an operator and a maintenance planner at Salt River Project’s Coronado Generating Station until his retirement in 1997. He enjoyed retirement and found joy in church service, community service, traveling to visit grandkids and most especially taking care of Erma, his eternal bride. George also enjoyed many hours of working in his yard and garden and seeing the results of his efforts.

He was blessed with a beautiful baritone voice and shared this talent by singing in the high school choir and in many church choirs throughout his life. He often performed solos and with small ensembles. He would call his children and grandchildren on their birthdays and sing happy birthday. This is a treasured memory of all his descendants.

A graveside service will be held Saturday January 3, 2026 at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Johns Westside Cemetery to celebrate and remember his life.