George Raleigh Worthington

George Raleigh Worthington, 87, of St. Charles passed away March 29 comfortably and surrounded by family and friends. George was born March 3, 1939, in St. Louis to parents Virginia and George Marsh Worthington. He joined the US Army Survey Corp after high school and graduated from University of Missouri–Columbia with a degree in Forestry. He first worked with the US Forestry Department. Then as a University City engineer, he designed parks in the area that still exist today.

After moving to St. Charles, George became an Operations Officer for the city, contributing to the redevelopment of downtown St. Charles in the ‘70s and into the ‘80s, notably designing Albert F. Kister Park and gazebo and preserving numerous trees in Frontier Park. He and his beloved wife Sharlotte purchased the Central Building at 222 N. Main Street. There they opened Worthington Stove and Hardware in 1984 and operated in the Central Building until 2007. Together, George and Sharlotte restored the building and helped reshape downtown St. Charles into the thriving commercial and entertainment district it is today.

Ral, as he was known, was also a master carpenter and woodworker, creating a myriad of pieces from guitars and harpsichords to sailboats. He restored antiques and furniture and contributed to the restoration of other local buildings. In his youth he loved hunting and adventuring on the rivers of southern Missouri with his brothers, Nick and Rich, and sister Penny. George touched countless lives and made many forever friends and will be greatly missed by them and his family.

George is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sharlotte; sister Penny Barnicle and her children Kelly (Ron) Hutchcraft, Ellen (Will) Schmitt, and Tom (Jenn) Barnicle; godchildren Cort (Laura) Smith and Graham (Wendy) Smith; grandnieces and nephews Michael, Nikki, Jacob, Noah, Natalie, Vivienne, Arya, Sawyer, and Atticus; close family friends Jason, Ann, Sophia and Claire Quakenbush; and special family members Carmen and Tom, Tristan, Fletcher and Sydney Suedmeir. A memorial gathering for George will be held at 1818 Bistrot at 515 S. Main St, St. Charles, TBD.