George Kruer, had distinguished career
George Kruer, 92, a beloved husband, uncle, and dedicated community member, passed away Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. He leaves behind a legacy of service, dedication, and love that will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Fla., George moved to Washington, D.C., in 1950 and began working at the FBI in their photo lab as a photographer. It was here that he met Florence, a native of Appomattox, Va., and they married in 1953. Shortly after their marriage, George joined the Army Security Agency, where the couple spent two years in Germany before returning to the FBI in 1955.
George pursued higher education at the Northern Virginia Extension Division of the University of Virginia before transferring to American University, where he earned his bachelor of arts in economics in 1961 and later, a master of arts in international economics.
He had a distinguished career at the Bureau of Economic Analysis, U.S. Department of Commerce, where he worked from 1961 until his retirement in 1987. During his career, he played a key role in domestic product accounts and later, the U.S. balance of payments, ultimately retiring as chief of the International Investment Division. His work tracked the flow of foreign investments into and out of the United States.
In retirement, George and Florence enjoyed traveling up and down I-95 to Florida, having retired there twice before returning to the Mid-Atlantic. They also spent extended periods each year in Rehoboth Beach before settling in Milton in 1999. Though their commute to their apartment became only 10 miles, they still spent the winters in Florida.
George’s greatest passion was gardening, where he dedicated four to six hours a day to cultivating his plants, particularly native azaleas and hostas. Florence often joked that his goal was to create a personal jungle with every variety of plants he could get his hands on. Together, they enjoyed traveling and sampling good ethnic cuisine, something that was often in short supply in Rehoboth.
George is survived by his loving wife of 72 years, Florence Kruer; and 10 nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Karl Kruer Sr. and Ida (Arpen) Kruer; and two brothers and two sisters.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Feb. 15, at the Lutheran Church of Our Savior, 20276 Bay Vista Road, Rehoboth, where family and friends are invited to begin visiting at 10 a.m. Burial will be held privately.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made to any of the following organizations close to George’s heart: Innisfree Village, International Rescue Committee, Lutheran World Relief, Operation Smile, or The Nature Conservancy.
George’s kindness, intellect, and unwavering dedication to his family and community will be remembered always. His presence will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Visit George's Life Memorial webpage at parsellfuneralhomes.com.
