George Egbert Conklin
November 7, 1959 ~ September 1, 2024
George E. Conklin II, 64, died September 1, 2024, in Lake City, Florida, after a courageous battle with cancer.
He is survived by his wife, Karen (Scheiner) Conklin; daughters Jessica F. Conklin and her husband, Andrew Kaufman, and Anna J. Conklin; granddaughters Maya A. Debose and Mackenzie Conklin-Kaufman, all of Gainesville, Florida; sister Honor Conklin, Albany, New York; nephew Jason Coughlin and his spouse, Arthur James Whitley, of Raleigh, North Carolina.
He is predeceased by his parents, George E. and Dorothy (Cobb) Conklin; a sister Amanda C. Conklin.
He was born on November 7, 1959, in Binghamton, New York. He was an active Boy Scout and soccer player. He graduated from Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, where he received a Bachelor of Science. He received a Master of Military Arts and Science from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College, Leavenworth, Kansas.
His professional career included service in the United States Army, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. That was followed by employment at Booz Allen Hamilton, retiring as a Principal.
He was blessed with lifelong friendships, many of whom travelled to say their goodbyes in his final days.
He travelled the world with his wife, Karen, from Alaska to Antarctica and Europe. He was the staple for his extended family. A safety net in all respects, giving to others a security which wasn't always given to him as a child. Although, those times had their moments. His sister recalls he was the "Eloise" of the Sheraton Inn in Binghamton, New York, running through the lobby as a six-year-old and bopping into the bar for a glass of orange juice. He could find humor everywhere.
The highlights of his last years were his granddaughters, Maya and Mackenzie, from walks to the turtle pond and a final gift of a Disney Cruise. They brought him immense joy during his most challenging times.
It was a life of accomplishment, love and resilience. He was denied longevity but will come to rest in Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to The Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Crevasse's Simple Cremation is honored to serve the Conklin family.
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Rest in peace George. You will be missed!
May God hold the Conklin family in the palm of His hand.
A true leader and mentor.
Rest in peace, George. Grateful for your support and to have known and worked with you.
I'm so very sorry for your loss. I was George's EA since 2013, and he was, hands-down, one of my favorite people. He always made me feel valued, and let me know that my role was vital to the team. I admired him and was proud to work for him because there was never any doubt that he truly cared about and always looked out for his team. He was one of the most down to earth, humble and funny people I knew. He will be truly missed.
Please know that your family will always be in my thoughts and prayers.
I was privileged to have served alongside George. His passion for service to this great Nation in our Army was evident to me as a young officer, and I learned a great deal from George about our profession over the years I knew him. My condolences to the Conklin family. We Cover the Earth!
To the greatest leader and mentor I’ve ever known, you will be truly missed George and hope I can make a fraction of the lasting positive impact you’ve made on this world.
Rest in peace, Boss. Thank you for the opportunities, leadership, and friendship that have blessed my life and the lives of so many others.
It was a privilege to have been a colleague of George in the Army and in private industry for the last 40 years. RIP my friend and see you on the other side.
George, Farewell and Following Seas…
Miss you, Touey.
Rest in peace, George. You leave behind a legacy of care for people and integrity, in your family, friends, and colleagues. We could not have asked for a better mentor or friend.
Rest in peace my friend. Great leader, mentor and friend. You will be missed.
May you be remembered for your passion and positive impacts to the U.S. Army Counterintelligence mission. May you rest in peace.
To the smartest counterintelligence officer I've ever known. It was an honor to serve with you and to have you as a friend for over 32 years! Rest in Peace now and thanks for all the great wargaming memories. Roll high in heaven!
George was a phenomenal friend, mentor and colleague to so many, both while serving in the Army and later as a Principle with Booz-Allen Hamilton. Always ready for quip or retort, he had a way of communicating complex issues in simple and often passion terms. I consider myself lucky to get to spend time with him before he moved to Florida. Peace and blessings to the family.
At the age of seven I was told I was going to have a younger sibling. Asked which I wanted, I said a brother, and I would tell him I got the brother I had asked for. We were both “quick on the uptake” as our father, a former counterintelligence officer in World War II, would say. We learned to “read” people early on. We communicated those observations to each other in shorthand. On the rare times I would say, “humor me”, he would respect my observation without question, as I respected his. As the younger sibling of two older artist sisters, he was always game to pose for photographs and paintings and act in home movies. I think we helped prepare him for having two daughters and two granddaughters. So many stories to tell. He and his family travelled to Albany a year ago last June so that we could hug our last goodbye. I will forever be grateful for that. In his last year he expressed his concern that he would be forgotten. Whatever name you knew him by, Sir, George, Tuey, Tu, or Tuti, he asked, remember him. Thank you for posting your memories.
It was a privilege to have served with George over the years both in the Army and Booz Allen. He was a consummate professional with a great sense of humor. You will be missed but not forgotten. May you rest in peace in God’s hands.
Rest in Peace, George. I will always be grateful for your mentorship, guidance and opportunities you provided to me both in uniform and when I transitioned into civilian life. My deepest and sincerest condolence to the Conklin family.
I first met then Lieutenant Colonel George Conklin when I signed into Detachment 14, FCA, 902d MI Group in November 2002. He was first my Commander, then my Manager, and always my Friend. I will remember you each year at the Towson, MD, Zero Prostate Run. I will miss our music talk. George, Rest in Eternal Peace.
My sincere condolences. I wish you and your family strength. May George's memory be eternal.
It was my honor to have served our country and our army with George. I learned a lot from George.
I remember playing with Tuey when we were both little. He always had the latest GI Joe with a complete toy arsenal. Our Dads (brothers) would sometimes hunt birds in the fall on our farm. When we were up there in the summers it was a stream of cousins, all plying into a station wagon to go to the drive in movies. With me being in the Navy we only crossed paths a few times, like his wedding to Karen. He left us far too soon.
George and I were roomates at Penn State. Met George in ROTC and we became fast friends. We did not stay in touch over the years, but he was never far from my thoughts. Boy I could tell some stories about our time together and the antics we both pulled. I had hoped as we both reach retirement to reconnect. Now that will have to wait for heaven. RIP my friend, I am truly saddened by this news. My prayers to you Karen and hope your days remain filled with good memories, fun times and cherish the legacy your wonderful husband left you and your family. *hand salute LTC Conklin*
I will miss our talks at the bench. Time knowing you was way too short.
Tu has a new grandson, Theodore. I wish we could tell him, so I am telling the world. His granddaughter thinks her new brother is "so nice, so nice". May they be as close.
Late but heartfelt condolences on your passing George. You were a good friend and a patient mentor. I am a better person for having known you. God bless and care for you.
My sincere condolences, George was truly a professional and a good friend. We served together as Captains and again as Majors inthe 902d MI Group as we pursued our adversary to protect our sensitive military technologies. With your expertise and tenacity, we succeded George. Many thanks for your service and commitment to our Nation.
Rest…
I met George at PENN State's Altoona campus and he was my roommate for a year at State College, along with Pete and Craig. For 2 or 3 years the four of us were inseparable. I can still picture him relaxing and smoking a pipe occasionally. I have many joyful memories of George. I just learned of his passing in the Penn State alumni magazine. I'm so very, very sorry to learn of his suffering and death.