10/26/2012
In Memoriam: George Oelschig
Chris Beytes
GrowerTalks is saddened to report the passing of George Oelschig of Oelschig’s Nursery in Savannah, Georgia, August 22. He was 85.
I was fortunate enough to meet George last fall at his greenhouse to talk about the business and how much it has changed. Even in his 80s, George spent time in the greenhouse every day working with his favorite potted crops—on the day I was visiting, it was hydrangeas.
pictured: George and his son Kurt, who runs the family business today.
George served as a marine on Guam and in North China during WWII, then graduated from Mississippi State University with majors in agriculture, horticulture and botany in 1950. That’s when he joined his father and brother at Oelschig’s, which was founded in 1882. He was a founder of the Georgia Commercial Flower Growers in 1973, and was named Grower of the Year in 1975.
GT