George Henry Krebs Sr., 92, of Clinton passed away Sept. 22 at Canterfield of Oak Ridge with his beloved wife Shirley “Tootie” at his side.
Mr. Krebs was born in Newport, Ky., to the late George L. and Julia J. Strategier Krebs. He met his wife, Tootie, as a second-grader at St. Therese School in Southgate, Ky. As a high- schooler, he was employed by Brienes Jeweler in Cincinnati, where he apprenticed to learn the art of clock and watch repair. He was a graduate of Newport Catholic High School and attended Xavier University in Cincinnati.
During the Korean conflict, Mr. Krebs served in the U.S. Air Force as an aviation instrument mechanic in Japan and attained the rank of staff sergeant.
George and Tootie were married in February 1954 at St. Therese Church in Southgate, Ky., after his return from Japan. He worked at Simon & Fischer Oldsmobile in Newport until 1969, when Mr. and Mrs. Krebs and their family moved to Clinton. There, with Mrs. Krebs at his side, he started Krebs Chevrolet Inc. in Clinton, operating it for 22 years until retiring in 1991. He continued to collect and repair clocks and watches throughout his life.
Mr. Krebs was a devout Catholic and longtime member of St. Therese Church in Clinton, where he was one of the original founding members. Left to cherish his memory are Tootie, his wife of 69 years; sons Dr. George Krebs Jr. (Myra) and Joe Krebs (Chantel); daughters Lori Puryear, and Julie Edmondson (Carl); grandchildren Sarah Burns (Joseph), Alex Krebs (Emma), Katie Schreiber (Bryan), Andrew Cook, Ryan Cook, Matthew Puryear, Blake Edmondson, and Peyton Krebs; step-grandchildren Branton Brown, Dan Edmondson, Josh Edmondson (Charity), Katie Meister (Jon), Carla Pimental (Mike), Cory Richardson, Cameron Richardson (Carolyn); and great-grandchildren Avalyn Maier, Josie Burns, Keaton Schreiber, and Kaiden Schreiber.
Mr. Krebs was preceded in death by his parents, George L. and Julia J. Strategier Krebs; brothers Rev. Paul F. Krebs and Stanley M. Krebs; son-in-law Marshall H. Puryear; and granddaughter Leza A. Watts.
The family wishes to extend special thanks for the loving and compassionate care received from Canterfield of Oak Ridge, Amedisys Hospice, and dear friend Deacon Dan Hosford of St. Joseph Parish in Norris. A funeral Mass was celebrated on Sept. 30 at St. Therese Church in Clinton. Burial followed at Grandview Memorial Garden. A separate memorial Mass was held on Oct. 7 at St. Therese Church in Mr. Krebs’ hometown of Southgate, Ky. Donations in Mr. Krebs’ memory may be made to the Building Debt Reduction Fund at St. Therese Church, 701 S. Charles G. Seivers Blvd., Clinton, TN 37716 or the Employee Fund at Canterfield of Oak Ridge, 200 Bus Terminal Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
