George Cable Spurlin Jr., 88, of Galax, died Thursday, June 10, 2021, at Roanoke Memorial Hospital from injuries sustained in an automobile accident earlier that afternoon in Galax.

George was born October 10, 1932 in Grayson County to George Cable and Bonnie Jarvis Spurlin and spent his early years in the Grayson County and Galax areas. A member of the Galax High School Maroon Tide football team, George joined the US Air Force soon after high school and served in the Korean War, stationed in Japan. After the war, he came back to Virginia and attended the Danville Technical Institute studying electronics. In the 1950's George worked for IBM and for Martin Marietta in Orlando, FL and then enlisted in the US Navy where he did several tours in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico aboard the USS Independence and USS Lexington air craft carriers. In the early 1960's he married the love of his life, Nina Sue Harless, and subsequently had two daughters, Martha and Karen. In the 1960's and 1970's George and his family lived in Pensacola and the FL Keys as he served in the Navy, retiring from active duty in Key West with over 20 years of dedicated service. After military service, George worked for several companies as an electronics technician, repairing complex communications equipment on planes and base stations.

After retirement in the 1980's and the loss of his cherished Sue, George moved back to his beloved Galax where he worked for Barr's Fiddle Shop and for Sara Lee Knit Products in security. He took up the banjo, loved riding the back country roads, listening to Bluegrass and Old-Time music, and hiking the trails at the Blue Ridge Music Center – which he did over 700 times, an accomplishment of which he was very proud! George was a wonderful husband and father and would do anything for his two daughters and for his family. He was so much more than the jobs he held and the work he did. His quirky sense of humor and easy-going nature were always on display, creating friendships wherever he went. His weekly encounters at the bank, Food City, and the Music Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway engendered laughs and stories and smiles and made him countless friends. He was generous beyond belief, helping others wherever he could. He loved porch sitting in the evening and many friends and family spent time with him on the beloved porch of his home, sharing laughs and stories and observations about life.

George (Junior, Daddy, Pa-Dude to his daughters and to his grandson Christian, Grandpa to the dogs) loved nature and animals and children and cows and his Total Gym and stationary bike, which he worked out on every single day. He truly did not realize he was 88 years old! He also loved his autonomy and independence and doing whatever he wanted, when he wanted. While his sudden passing has left a hole in our hearts, we take comfort knowing he was doing what he loved, living his very best life the way he wanted to live it, right up to the very end. We know that he will always be with us – telling jokes and taking care of us from on high!

He is survived by his daughters, Martha Spurlin Applewhite and Karen Spurlin, both of Raleigh; son-in-law Jim Applewhite; sister and brother-in-law Nellie and James Harmon of Galax; grandson Christian Applewhite of Asheville; nieces Wanda Reeves (Butch) of Richmond and Brenda Workman (Richard) of Greenville, SC; nephews Onnie Harmon, TJ Harmon (Brenda), Chuck Harmon, all of Galax, and Danny Harmon of Floyd; several great nieces and nephews and several great great nieces and nephews.

George is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Nina Sue Harless Spurlin of Galax; brothers Obie and Onnie Dean Spurlin; and sisters Opal Stockner and Mattie Lou Harmon.

A visitation / celebration of life service will be held Saturday, June 26 at 1 p.m. in the visitation room of Vaughan-Guynn Funeral Home in Galax. Please come and share your memories and funny stories of George. Following the service, we invite all to join us as we gather at the Music Center trail head on the Blue Ridge Parkway to remember him in one of his favorite places.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in George's honor to the Blue Ridge Parkway Foundation or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. How he loved both of these organizations…and how we loved him!