Obituary of George Baker Rounsevell

George Baker Rounsevell was born to Nelson Rounsevell and Bonnie Francis Mary Baker Rounsevell in Kansas City, Missouri and came to live in Santa Cruz at age 2. He died at the age of 78, on June 26, 2011 after a lengthy battle with esophagus cancer. He attended Holy Cross School and graduated from Santa Cruz High School class of 1952. George retired as Operating Foreman from Moss Landing Power Plant (PG & E) in 1987 with over thirty six years service. He also served as a volunteer Firefighter with Aptos and Soquel Fire Department with over two decades combined. George served in the USNR and was Active Duty from 1954 to 1956 in the Marshall Islands and Hawaii. George is no stranger to volunteering his time with almost 50 years membership in Masonry in three Lodges. He became a highly respected 32nd degree Mason. He served as the Past Master Counselor of the Order of DeMolay, Chapter #216-Santa Cruz, during his membership that began in 1948. He earned the DeMolay Cross of Honor in 1993. In 1964 George joined Confidence Masonic Lodge #110 and served as the Worshipful Master in 1990 and 1995. He had the honor of receiving the Hiram Award in 1992. George became a member of Santa Cruz-San Lorenzo Valley Masonic Lodge #38 in 1991. He served as Marshal for the Santa Clara Daylight Masonic Lodge #844 from 1986. George has been a member since 1974 of Scottish Rite Valley of San Jose Orient of California (KCCH). He held the position of Master of Kadash in 1997 and as Senior Warden Rose Croix in 2003. He was a member of the Scottish Rite Club of Santa Cruz since1974 and served as the Past President in 1996. He was a member of Asiya Shriners AAONMS of San Mateo since1977 and served as the Santa Cruz Shrine Past President in 1995. He was a member of the Wild Lily Order of Eastern Star, #18-Soquel, and served as Worthy Patron in 1999. Since 1992 he has been a member of the Order of The Amaranth, Inc., Court #99 San Lorenzo Valley/Santa Cruz, and served as Royal Patron in 1997 and 2001. In 1998 he became a member of Palo Alto York Rite Bodies #93, Royal Arch Masons of CA #93, Cryptic Masons of CA #51 and Knights Templar of CA #47. In 1997 he joined the Royal Order of Scotland, Charleroe, Pennsylvania. George has also been the Past President four times of the Hi-12 International #59 from 1992 to 1998. George participated in the Dominican Hospital Pulmonary Rehabilitation Program (Better Breathers) for many years. The group is also affectionately called the Barely Breathing Brunch Bunch. George is survived by his son, Daniel G. Rounsevell and his wife Beth of Royal Oaks, his daughter Linnaea Avenell and her husband Mike of Soquel, 4 grandchildren, 4 nieces, and 4 nephews. George was preceded in death by his wife of 53 years, Shirley Rounsevell, who passed away August 12, 2006 and his sister Barbara Kievlan, who passed away November 17, 2005. A Memorial Service will be held for George at the Confidence Hall, Soquel Masonic Lodge No. 110 at 3001 Main St. in Soquel on Saturday, August 6, 2011 at 2 pm.