George Edward Mercier

George Edward Mercier passed away peacefully at the IU Health Hospice House on September 5, 2024, at age 90. George was born on July 6, 1934, to Octave and Mary (Raynier) Mercier in Linton, IN. George was at the top of his class through elementary and high school years. He graduated from Linton Stockton High School in 1952. George attended Purdue University in 1952-1953 on scholarship in physics. He transferred to Indiana University in 1953 to be closer to his family, because his father was injured in a tragic coal mining accident. He graduated from Indiana University with a Bachelor of Science degree in physics. George loved music and dancing. In 1956, he and his friend George Elkins traveled from Linton to Jasper, IN one evening because the nearest dancehall, The Rustic, was located there. Here, George Mercier asked a young lady to dance, thereby meeting the love of his life and future wife, Luetta “Lu” Fuhrman. Coincidentally, his friend George Elkins asked Luetta’s sister Ruth Fuhrman to dance that same night, and they also became husband and wife. George and Luetta were married on April 28, 1957, and shared 67 years of loving partnership. They spent their first two years of marriage in Anchorage, Alaska, while he was serving in the U.S. Army. Alaska became a state during their stay there on June 30, 1959, which happened to be Lu’s birthday. George’s professional life was productive and innovative. Upon graduating from Indiana University in 1960, George joined Westinghouse Electric in Bloomington, Indiana. He worked there for 35 years, becoming a manager for high voltage electrical transmission and distributions. He specialized in high voltage capacitor development. George was awarded numerous U.S. and international patents throughout his career. George is credited with a significant patent for inventing a capacitor fluid that replaced PCB fluid, a development that impacted capacitor use and disposal worldwide. He negotiated rights to technology and patents which involved extensive travel for meetings and conferences to accomplish this. Upon retirement in 1996, he negotiated a joint agreement with Mitsubishi Rayon of Japan to build a plastics film plant in Bloomington named MIRWEC which produced electrical grade polypropylene film. He was plant manager at MIRWEC for six years before his final retirement. Throughout his career, he traveled and work with colleagues from all over the world, many of whom became lifelong personal friends. Together with Lu, George enjoyed an active and a rich, fulfilling, and meaningful life, filled with travel adventures and service to others. George enjoyed various sports, especially baseball, which he played as a pitcher. He was a Little League baseball and football coach. George and Lu enjoyed bowling in leagues and golfing for many years. George and Lu were avid supporters of IU baseball, basketball, and football. They learned to snow ski in Colorado in their late 40s, with many family Christmases spent enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery that George so loved. George was very fond of fishing and boating on Lake Monroe. He had an affinity for collecting and restoring 1965 Mustangs, preferably red convertibles and belonged to many car clubs. With his family, he attended numerous car shows and his cars were featured in many parades, earning the nickname “Mr. Mustang.” George and Lu were faithful charter members and active in Faith Lutheran Church. They volunteered their time and talents together, in many local organizations, including the Food Pantry. George and Lu were avid travelers and saw the world together. George was a wine connoisseur and enjoyed visiting many wineries in France, particularly those in the Loire and Provence regions. Given his French heritage, he was very interested in family genealogy and traced the family history in great detail. George was a generous and loving man, living a life devoted to his wife Lu, his son Tim and daughter Michelle. He was preceded in death by his wife Lu, his son Tim, his sister Marceline (Harry Norton), and his brother Henry (Avalene) Mercier. He is survived by his daughter Michelle Mercier-De Shon, Ph.D., his son-in-law Freddy De Shon, as well as many nieces and nephews. A memorial service for both George and Lu will be held on September 7, 2024 at 11:00 am at Faith Lutheran Church in Bloomington, IN, as a way to celebrate their incredible love story and their two lives lived well together, Revs. Eric Edwards and Christopher Beck officiating. Allen Funeral Home and Crematory have been entrusted with arrangements. Online condolences, photos and memories may be shared with family and friends at www.allencares.com

Tributes

George Edward Mercier

July 6, 1934 - September 5, 2024