BROWNTONIAN GEORGE BAGGARLY AND HIS ARMY BUDDIES
George Baggarly, second from the left, was born in Browntown in 1924 and spent most of his life in Warren County. In 1942, after graduating from WCHS, George
served in the U.S. Army during WWII. This photo was most likely taken in 1945 when he was serving in the army as a combat engineer. He was later accepted for Officer Candidate School but since the war was over he chose to go to Germany instead.
A LIFE WELL LIVED
George’s parents were George Brown Sr. and Alice Deavers Baggarly. The Baggarly name has been in the Browntown area for four or more previous generations. George’s grandparents were Albert R. and Kate Racer Baggarly. His great grandfather was Samuel Baggarly and his great-great-grandfather was Charles Baggarly. They and their families have always lived on or off Gooney Manor Loop.
George was born in the house known as Fountful, located about a mile north of Browntown.
Sadly, his father was killed at the age of 31 in a hunting accident 11 weeks before George was born. Later George and his mother lived in Mount Echo at Boyd’s Mill for eight years before moving once again to River Bend Farm, which was built in the 1700’s and owned by George C. Ramsey, George’s grandfather. In 1945 George and his family moved to the old Lafayette Updike house on Gooney Manor Loop.
George attended Browntown Elementary School and Asbury School. He then attended WCHS where he came under the influence of J.J. Foster, the renowned and respected instructor of vocational agriculture. George became a member of Future farmers of America, and was elected State Vice President.
George’s work experience was highly varied. His first job after his army service was in the ASC office for several months. He then worked for American Viscose until 1963. Thereafter, he had a brief tour with Cardinal Foods where he sold Sealtest products. Next, he worked for Frank Lawson at the Warren Feed Store and then for Alvin B. Stokes at his General Store on Main St. Front Royal for 13 years. From 1977-81 he worked for Jess Poe in his business and Building Supplies Business. For 3 years he was part owner of the IGA. In 1984 he leased the Proctor/Biggs Feed Mill, operated it for 7 years and in June, 1991 he officially retired.
George had a significant political career. He ran for the position of Supervisor of the South River District in 1951, won, and served for 28 years. In 1987 he was appointed to the Warren County Planning Commission and served for sixteen years, ending in December 2003
He also found time to be involved in the community. When the Browntown Community decided to try to obtain the former Browntown School to use and keep as a community center, George, as a member of the Board of Supervisors, was in a good position to take an active part in helping the community obtain it from Warren County. He served as one of the trustees of the community center for several years.
For more than 50 years he was very involved in the churches of Browntown, serving as deacon, trustee, manager of heating, electricity, and air-conditioning, and was treasurer and trustee of the Agape Baptist Church.
In 1948 George married Frances Rebecca Woodward. George and Frances lived for one year in the Updike house where George’s family had moved in 1945. They then bought and moved into the house across the road from O.J. Rudacille’s store, where they would live for the rest of their lives.
George was an avid reader of history, especially of the western territories of the United States. He enjoyed working in his vegetable garden and loved learning new things. At the age of 86, he was working on improving his computer skills just before he died peacefully in the home of his daughter in Chesterfield on Tuesday, June 14, 2011.
NOTE:
We have drawn heavily in writing this article on a report of an interview Anna Rae Rudacille carried out in 2003 with George and Frances Baggarly. This report was published in an edition of the Browntown Community Center Association in 2003.