George Oliver Fike, age 93, from Macon, GA, passed away peacefully at 7:45 A.M. on July 22, 2026, after severe complications from a stroke he incurred on July 12.

George was one of 9 children and was born on September 5, 1932, in Smithville, OH, to Harry and Mildred Fike. The family moved to the Rio Grande Valley area in TX, when George was a young man. The farm years of his youth found expression later in his life in his continued love of vegetable gardening, in growing flowers for his wife Nita, and perhaps even in his yard work business of many years.

He married Juanita May Drewry on August 9, 1952. They just missed celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary by a little over a week, when she died on July 30, 2022.

George was a hard worker and worked well with his hands. He held a variety of manual labor jobs including farm laborer, service station attendant, warehouse worker, cotton gin operator, dairy delivery man, welder, house painter and repairman, UPS delivery man, lawn service operator, and lift truck operator for McKee Foods Corporation that makes Little Debbie snack cakes. (Could this in any way have inspired his love for baking anise sugar cookies?!) He passed along his strong work ethic to his four sons and to his grandchildren.

He served in the US Army in the Korean War as a radar generator operator, a radio operator, and a motor pool corporal.

By his own admission, he was not a ready student as a young man, but he later earned his GED and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Theology from Tennessee Temple College in 1970. He even taught a year of high school history and math at Unity Christian in East Ridge, TN. In his 90's he took up the hobby of reading, completing almost 30 books, although he was still reading his John Smolz biography when he died.

As a young man, he made a profession of faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and served as a missionary in West Germany for 5 years after attending Bible college. He then worked in home missions in Pittsburgh, PA, for a short while. While at South Seminole Baptist Church in Rossville, GA, he taught the Sunday school class for senior citizens. In his 90's he was a member of Redeemer Baptist Church in Macon, GA. In his later years, George was especially grateful for God's grace and mercy to him. He was diligent in his prayers for the needs of others, continuing a habit he and Juanita had participated in together. Perhaps his most endearing qualities in his final years were his gratitude and his flexibility.

George is survived by his 4 sons and their wives: Bryan Fike (Patti), Curtis Fike (Gloria), Steve Fike (Barbara), and Jon Fike (Tanya); by his sisters Janet Oelschlegel of Sinton, TX, and Mary Balthrop of Grand Prairie, TX; and by 8 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. A private family graveside service will be held with arrangements graciously handled by Covenant Funeral and Crematory.