George Stephen Plym

George Plym died peacefully in his sleep on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the John F. Keever Hospice Solace Center in Asheville, North Carolina. George was born in Spring Valley, Illinois, on August 13, 1954 to Stephanie Plym and the late George A. Plym. He graduated from Hall High School in Spring Valley and moved to Miami, Florida before settling in Asheville, North Carolina in 1978. George was first diagnosed with a brain tumor in 1967 when he was 13 years old. Even though his parents were told he only had a year or two to live, he went on to survive 49 more years with 14 brain tumors before succumbing to bone and various other cancers. He is survived by his wife, Diane Orr Plym of Asheville and her daughter Laura Short Erickson (Eric) of Ashburn, VA and their children, Elizabeth and Anna Erickson. In addition, George is survived by his mother Stephanie Plym of Spring Valley, IL; his sister Nancy Blum (Ken) of Lorraine, IL; his nephews: Eric Blum of Chicago, IL; Andy (Judi) of Fort Collins, CO and their children, Moriah, Selah, Micah, and Isaiah Blum; and Jeff Blum (Heather) in Blue Springs, MO and their children, Maranatha, Austin, and Samuel Blum; as well as many uncles, aunts, and cousins. George enjoyed photography, playing the guitar, working on cars in his youth, and cheering for Chicago Cubs baseball, North Carolina Tar Heel basketball, and Alabama Crimson Tide football. He was an active, long-time member of West Asheville Presbyterian Church until he was unable to attend, and he was a beloved coach with West Asheville Little League Baseball. He was the founder of the Western North Carolina Brain Tumor Support Group, and he was an inspiration, leader, guide, and friend to many others suffering from brain tumors and other cancers. George will be remembered as a loving and caring person who never met a stranger. He overcame his battles with health and turned his misfortune into a way to help others. His family is grateful and thankful to family, friends, and hospice staff for their support and prayers in his last weeks. They also thank Drs. Branch, Shaw, Lesser, and Chan at the Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center, and a special thank you to Dr. James McMillan and staff at the Family Health Center in Asheville for their care and friendship. A memorial service of thanksgiving for his life will be held Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 4:00 PM at West Asheville Presbyterian Church with the Revs. Kent Smith and Tommy Bridges officiating. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 4:00 prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Refugee Ministry in care of Grace Bible Church, P.O. Box 1325, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.