George Watson Obear, 95, of Delphi, died at 5:30 p.m. on June 29, 2004, in Lafayette.  He had been a resident of Westminster Village in West Lafayette for the past 10 years.
  Born in Delphi on Oct. 4, 1908, he was the son of James Orlando and Emma Jackson Obear.
  He was a 1926 graduate of Delphi High School, a 1930 graduate of DePauw University, and a 1933 graduate of the University of Iowa Law School in Iowa City, Iowa.  After graduation, he returned to Indiana passing the law exam and entering into practice with his father, James Orlando Obear.
  He married Margaret Fry on April 7, 1934, in Iowa City, and she died in 1976.  He married Louise Nichols on Aug. 26, 1978, in Delphi, and she died in 1993.
  In his youth, Mr. Obear worked for Smiths' Grocery.  While attending college, he worked for Noah Allen on the township road gang helping to pace the streets of south Delphi.
  During law school, he worked part-time in the national offices of Delta Chi Fraternity, in the college law library, and as a student assistant on Iowa Annotations to the Reinstatement of Contracts.  He served as tutorial advisor to Delta Chi chapters at Ioa and DePauw universities.
  He was a stockholder and was later the chairman of the board of Carroll County Abstract and Title Company.  He served as the Delphi city attorney from 1934 to 1939 and from 1941 to 1955.  He was chairman of Carroll County Republican Central Committee from 1950 to 1958 and was a past deacon, trustee, elder, and clerk of session for Delphi First Presbyterian Church.  He was a past director and attorney for Delphi Chamber of Commerce and was the recipient of the Chamber's Samuel Milroy Award in 1997.
  Mr. Obear was named Sagamore of the Wabash in 1998.  The Obear Millrace Trail at Wabash & Erie Canal Park was named in his honor for the abstract work he did for Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc.
  He was past grand marshall for Delphi's 4th of July parade.  He was inducted into the Carroll County Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2033.
  Mr. Obear was the only surviving charter member of Delphi Rotary, founded in 1939.  He was a past president and a multiple Paul Harris Fellow.  In 1970, he was honored as the American Legion's Citizen of the Year.
  He served as national president of Delta Chi and served as legal advisor.  He was named to the Delta Chi order of the White Carnation, named National President Emeritus of Delta Chi and Delta Chi Educational Foundation Director Emeritus.
  He was a member of Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc. and was a 50-year member of Delphi Masonic Lodge F&AM; a member of Delphi IOOF Lodge #28; Phi Alpha Delta legal fraternity; and Indiana Bar Association.
  Mr. Obear's family was recognized as a Carroll County First Family.  His mother's family was one of the first families to reside in Carroll County.
  Mr. Obear served in active duty as a lieutenant in the U.S. Navy Reserve as part of the Fleet Air Wing 8 in Alameda, Calif., between 1944 and 1946.
  He was currently of counsel with the law firm of Obear, Overholser, Huffer, Rider & Fouts.
  He enjoyed playing bridge, and volunteering his expertise for legal work for the nonprofits and community projects of the area.
  Surviving are two daughters; Martha Huggins of Swarthmore, Penn., and Judith Bunn of Fort Wayne; a stepson, John McGrath of Arlington Heights, Ill.; five grandchildren, Gam Huggins, Eric Huggins, Jon Huggins, Lisa Gamber, and Jennifer Bunn; a step grandchild, Erin McGrath; eight great-grandchildren, Chandler Huggins, Marissa Huggins, Lucca Huggins, Lauren Huggins, Tyler Huggins, Colin Huggins, Jordan Stearns, and Kerri Ann Huggins; two nieces, Mary L. Obear MacDougall and Patricia A. Obear Elvart Roush; and a nephew, James J. Obear.
  He was preceded in death by his wives, his parents, and a brother, James Horace Obear.
  Services were July 3 at Davison Funeral Home, with burial at Masonic Cemetery.
  Memorials may be made to Carroll County Wabash & Erie Canal, Inc., YMCA Camp Tecumseh, or Carroll County Historical Museum.
 
Obituary notice taken from the Carroll County Comet, Wednesday, July 7, 2004