George Small Obituary

Dr. George Robert Small, Jr., was born November 20, 1942, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the son of George and Sidney Small. A man devoted to his family, his patients, his friends, and the Lord, he lived every day believing that he was truly "blessed." Even in his last days, when his mind and his body had failed him, the gratitude and love that defined him remained.

When George was eight, his father, a salesman for Fruehauf Trailer, moved the family to Greenwood, Indiana, where he would eventually start his own family and medical practice. In the 7th grade, he first met Carole. He was "the funny guy" and they were just friends back then. But by the time they were 16, George would write in the Whiteland High School annual, "I want you to be my wife, and I want to become a family physician."

High school dates at the Artcraft and fraternity parties at Franklin College led to that first dream coming true. On Father's Day, June 20, 1965, the two married at Whiteland United Methodist Church and honeymooned at Kentucky Lake, camping out on a boat. Carole worked as an administrative assistant at Eli Lilly to put George through medical school in Indianapolis. George completed his medical training and Carole worked in medical records at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie. In September of 1970 Kim was born and Jake followed just 15 months later.

The young family moved back to Greenwood, where George set up his practice on Madison Avenue. For the next 50 years, George cared for thousands of individuals and families on the south side of Indianapolis and Johnson County. Over the course of the next 25 years, he delivered nearly two-thousand babies. One of those "Small's Better Babies" would later become his daughter-in-law. "Dr. Small, what's a good name for our baby?" he was often asked. "You can always call him George!" he would reply with his usual mischievous smile.

Dr. Small mentored over 100 medical students during their family practice rotations and received numerous teaching awards for his excellence in preparing generations of family physicians. As a leader in the medical community, he served as chief of staff at Johnson Memorial Hospital and the medical director of Greenwood Village South, while also chairing the ethics committee at Community South. Not only was he highly regarded for his skill as a physician, but even more he was loved for the way he genuinely cared for his patients. He was kind and generous to everyone under his care during his five decades of medical practice. He never stopped doing house calls, and when someone couldn't pay, he would often tell Carole, "We'll do that one for Jesus!"

Having inherited his own father's love for sailing, George spent much of his free time sailing with his family at Lake Monroe or building boats in his two-car garage woodshop. He sailed a lightning class sailboat, "Small Fry," that he built with his father and restored a 1937 Garwood speedboat. And for their 25th wedding anniversary, Carole gave him the building plans for what would become "Happy Sounds," a thirty-foot sailboat, ten years later.

While George certainly left his mark as a self-described "country doctor," he put his faith and his family at the center of his life. His genuine interest in and love toward all people came from his simple faith in Jesus. During his 71 years as a member of Greenwood United Methodist Church, he taught middle and high school Sunday school, ran the sound board, and even filled the pulpit on several occasions. "If you can't say it in 17 minutes," he once quipped, "then it doesn't need to be said!" He and Carole loved and cared for the least of these through a lifetime of devotion to their church, community, and countless selfless acts of kindness and generosity.

George and Carole celebrated 60 years of marriage shortly before his death. The love story that began with 7th grade giggles, matured through countless walks and sails, and survived the cruelties of loss and dementia. Their legacy of love has been passed down to their daughter Kim, son-in-law Jason, and their son Jake, and daughter-in-law Carla, as well as their five grandchildren: Claire (Andrew) Kittridge, John (Sadie) Gallman, Seth (Shelby) Gallman, Shelby (Zo) Cangmah, and Jacey (Austin) Walts and three great grandchildren: Eleanor Ruth, Phoebe Jane, and Caroline Irene. George is also survived by his brother, Tom (Jenni) Small, and several nephews and a niece. George was preceded in death by his parents, Sidney Davis Small and George R. Small, Sr., and an infant son.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude to Main Street Hospice and the Otterbein staff of Health Center 2.

Calling hours will be from 9-12 Noon, Saturday August 2, at Otterbein Franklin SeniorLife Community, Wright Chapel, 1070 W. Jefferson Street, Franklin. Pastor Jason Gallman will officiate a funeral service to follow at 12 Noon. He will be laid to rest at Greenwood Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Greenwood United Methodist Church, 525 N. Madison Avenue, Greenwood, IN 46142 or to the Main Street Hospice, 10 Highland Avenue, Franklin, IN 46131.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Wilson St.Pierre Funeral Service, Greenwood Chapel. Online condolences may be shared with Small family at www.stpierrefamilyfuneral.com.