David George dies at 77
Benoni resident David Edmund George died on September 26, at the age of 77.
He was born on March 9, 1936, into a farming community in Camrose, in the south of Wales.
George attended a grammar school until the age of 14, then set off to work on a family farm in Keystone.
When he was 18 he started working in car sales, for Leyland and MG, becoming the top sales person at both Leyland and MG for several years.
He then bought a petrol station, Exchange and Mart Showrooms, where he traded in used cars and secondhand furniture.
He went on to open two more branches of Exchange and Mart Showrooms, which became one of the most successful secondhand furniture stores in Wales.
In 1961 George married Barbara Joyce Bevan, and they had five children, Winston, Ian, Sue, Paula and Barbi.
The family immigrated to South Africa in 1982.
Before the move, George had toured the country a number of times.
On his first tour to South Africa, in 1975, he took top honours in the Johannesburg Karting Grand Prix.
After immigrating he started buying and selling used cars and established the successful David George Motors (DGM), on Ampthill Avenue, a company he ran until his retirement, in 2006.
According to Barbi, her father was extremely passionate about motor sport, especially scrambling or motor-cross, where he was very successful for a number of years.
He also sponsored a number of cycling, soccer and netball teams.
George was an active Freemason and a member and chairperson of the Benoni Chamber of Commerce.
He is survived by his four sisters, five children, 13 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter.
His funeral service took place at the Victory Church, Chaucer Street, Farrarmere, on Friday, October 4.
