George R. Fortner

Southern Pines, NC
George Richard Fortner, Master Sgt, US Army Ret., age 91 of the Niagara community of Southern Pines died Monday at Manor Care in Pinehurst.
Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Thursday at Pleasant Hill Baptist Church conducted by the Rev. Gregg Newton and the Rev. Brad Marona. Burial will follow with full military honors in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends following the service in the church multi-purpose building.
A native of Grant County, KY he was a son of the late Arthur Wilson and Nancy Jane Penick Fortner. George served his country well from 1942 - 1967 as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne and was a Green Beret in the Special Forces. He was a charter member of Pleasant Hill Baptist church and dedicated many volunteer hours in the building of the original church.
George never forgot his roots in Kentucky and he would travel with his family each year back home to visit and to help with the horses and farming. He grew very fond of North Carolina and was a great community leader. Whenever there was a need in the community George was always there to respond, many time without others even knowing. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was preceded in death by eight brothers and sisters.
He is survived by: his wife of 65 years Burlein Garner Fortner; daughters Fonda Rosenbaum and husband Gary of Welcome, NC, Juanita Ammons and husband Windy of Hamlet; son George Richard 'Ricky' Fortner, II of the home; sisters Wanda Carr of Covington, KY, Garnet Hall of Proctorville, OH; brother John Fortner of Cincinnati, OH; five grandchildren Bubba, Leigh, Crysti, Candace, Casey and six great-grandchildren Lance, Riley, Morgan, Graham, Tyler, Hayley.
Memorials may be made to: Pleasant Hill Baptist Church, P.O. Box 386, Southern Pines, NC 28388.
Powell Funeral Home and Crematory is assisting the Fortner family.
Condolences: PinesFunerals.com