Obituary of George B. Kilbride

George B. Kilbride, 96, of Colts Neck Township died on Monday, February 24, 2020 at home. He was born in Roselle Park. He was a graduate of Roselle Park High School where he was a pitcher on the school’s baseball team and member of the school’s Hall of Fame. During World War II he enlisted at 17 in the United States Army Air Corps, and was a C-47 pilot in the 10th Air Force, 12th Combat Cargo Squadron, 3rd Group serving in northern Burma the Asiatic Pacific Theater of Operations. He survived being shot down twice while flying “over the hump”. A part of the “Greatest Generation”, he was a true Patriot. Following the War, he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering from the Newark College of Engineering, now New Jersey Institute of Technology. He spent a few years playing as a pitcher with the Newark Bears, a farm team of the New York Yankees. He worked his entire career at Atlas Supply Company, managing their laboratory. They supplied aftermarket parts to Exxon and Amoco gas stations. After retirement he worked part-time at Spring Meadow Golf Course, Bamm Hollow Golf Course, and Pebble Creek Golf Course. He was an avid golfer. He owned and operated Woodfield Christmas Tree Plantation in Colts Neck. He was predeceased by a brother, Harold Kilbride, also of Colts Neck. He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Norma James Kilbride; three sons, William and his wife Kerry Lucas Kilbride, Fair Haven, Christopher Kilbride, Colts Neck, and Robert Kilbride and his wife, Katherine Kucinski Kilbride, Manasquan; and four grandchildren, Katie, Abby, Jack, and Natalie. A memorial gathering will be held at the Higgins Memorial Home, 20 Center Street, Freehold on Friday from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m.