PLATTSBURGH — George L. Hubbell III passed away on Dec. 2, 2012, at Clinton County Nursing Home in Plattsburgh, from complications of pneumonia. He was 93 years old. George Hubbell was born on Sept. 18, 1919, in New York City, the son of George Loring Hubbell Jr. and Sophie (Young) Hubbell.
George married his wife Loretta McHugh in 1948. They made their permanent home in Chazy in the original Julius Caesar Hubbell homestead, dating back to 1880s. All five of their children graduated from Chazy Central Rural School.
George attended St. Paul's School in Garden City, N.Y. He graduated from The Governor's Academy in Byfield, Mass., class of 1939, where he was president of his class. He attended Williams College, class of 1943, where he was captain of his swim team.
He owned Hubbell Motors for many years, in Plattsburgh, where Friendly's Restaurant now stands. He was the Director of Office for Local Government in Plattsburgh until his retirement in 1985. George then worked for Senator Ron Stafford and Congressman Bob McEwen.
When George and Loretta retired they moved to Stuart, Fla., to spend the winter and continued to enjoy summers at Sunnywood on Lake Champlain. George was an avid swimmer, training at the Plattsburgh YMCA, where he had many friends. He competed in Senior Olympics across the United States, earning several medals along the way. George and Loretta were happily married for over 60 years. George had many hobbies and interests including snowmobiling, wooden boats, and cars.
George is survived by five children, Susan Hubbell O'Neil and her husband Michael of Cedar Grove, N.J., George L. Hubbell IV and his wife Katherine of Plattsburgh, Nancy Hubbell Lay and her husband David of San Antonio, Texas, Marti Hubbell Ross and her husband George of Niceville, Fla., and James Manning Hubbell and his wife Audrey of Chazy. George and Loretta have six grandchildren, Christine of Boston, Mass., Shane of Palo Alto, Calif., Erinn Hubbell of Salt Lake City, Utah, Nancy Ross of Washington, D.C., Loring Ross of Colorado Springs, Colo., and Katie Lay of Philadelphia, Pa. He is also survived by one sister, Elizabeth Hubbell Parsons of Spokane, Wash., in addition to many cousins, nieces and nephews. The whole family continues to gather each summer for reunions at "Sunnywood" on Lake Champlain. He will be remembered and greatly missed by all his friends and family.
He was preceded in death by a brother, Col. William M. Hubbell III of Chazy; and sisters, Susan Hubbell Wohlers of Chazy, Sophia Hubbell Collens of Cleveland, Ohio, and Barbara Hubbell Field of Fla. and Chazy.
Calling hours will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 6, at the R.W. Walker Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 7, in the Robert W. Walker Memorial Chapel. A private memorial service will be held at Sunnywood at a later date.
Online condolences may be made to www.rwwalkerfh.com.
Memorial donations may be made to Lake Champlain Committee (LCC) lakechamplaincommittee.org or Friends of the Big House, c/o Steve Shaw, 210 Fuller Lane Winnetka, IL 60093.
Arrangements are in the care of the R.W. Walker Funeral Home 69 Court St. Plattsburgh.
