George Real

Dec. 20, 1935 - May 15, 2026

On May 15, 2026, George Andrew Real took his last breath in the presence of his children and grandchildren. George was called to Heaven in God's perfect time, joining his sweetheart, Mary Shipley Real, who passed away in January of 2011. The pair were married on May 19, 1963, and had two children, Anthony and Debbi, just 11 months apart.

All who knew George could easily recognize that he was social, fond of the outdoors, loved dogs and horses, appreciated a cold beer or whiskey, and never left home without a pair of boots and a cowboy hat.

His favorite things appeared across his many pastimes: camping and fishing in Mammoth Lakes, attending Mule Days in Bishop, hunting in the Sierra Nevada mountains, attending cattle round-ups, visiting and socializing with friends and shooting the breeze at "Friday Night Meetings", rooting for the Lakers and Dodgers, and in earlier decades, nights out dancing with Mary and friends.

At home, George was fond of reading the newspaper cover to cover and wrapping his kids' and grandkids' gifts with pages from the comics section. He cooked a lot, especially hearty dishes like bacon, potatoes, and eggs over-medium. He was always willing to treat the grandkids to ice cream, which meant some for him, too. In earlier days, he had horses and a wild goat out back, and tended to his few orange, lemon, and kumquat trees. Later, he could be spotted sitting on his front porch watching folks drive up and down Piru Canyon.

During retirement, George monitored his rain gauge like a hawk, kept his hummingbird feeder stocked, made rounds visiting long-time comrades and cousins, and became a regular at local eateries, often ordering a black coffee and huevos rancheros. In his final years, George got the biggest kick out of his great-grandchildren.

George was born in Piru and a lifelong resident, completing grammar school there before attending middle school and high school in Fillmore. After graduating from high school in 1954, he became a proud, involved member of the Fillmore High School Alumni Association, eventually serving as president. He continued supporting the Alumni Association for many years, regularly attending its annual June banquet. He was also an active member of San Salvador Mission and a board member and past president of Piru Petroleum Club.

Affectionately known as "Papa" by many, most would agree that George was a little salty, a little sweet, and an all-around good human willing to help you out. From about age 10, he shined shoes and later worked on a chicken ranch. After high school, he entered the United States Army and was stationed at Ford Ord on Monterey Bay. In the early 1960s, he and Mary briefly lived in Nevada, where they worked at the Nevada Test Site. Soon after, they returned to Piru with two toddlers, building their lives together. George worked for OST Trucks and Cranes for nearly forty years, starting as truck driver, and eventually retiring as a supervisor and salesman. Those who knew George could count on an OST-branded jar of honey and a calendar each Christmas.

Carrying on his legacy are George's family members: son Anthony and wife Shelly; daughter Debbi and husband Lawrence; granddaughter April and husband Daniel; granddaughter Jaymee and husband Tito; grandson Zachary; and grandson Brandon and wife Nicole; and great-grandchildren Charlotte, Xander, Solana, Roman, Luis, and Antonio. He is also survived by his sisters Elma and Lucille.

George was the second youngest of 11 children, and the last of his brothers to pass away. In Heaven, he joins brothers Joe, Alex, Bill, Fred and Dick, and sisters Irene, Virginia, and Emily, and his parents, mother Lillie, father Joe, and stepfather Pete.

George's family would like to extend their gratitude to Ventura County Medical Center, especially Dr. Paterson, M.D., and to all who cared for and visited George, especially in his elder years.

Thinking about George's life, it's easy to see how much he meant to us. The honey he gave out each Christmas is a reminder to hold on to the sweet memories we share.