Retired U.S. Army Reserve Major General George William Goldsmith, Jr., of Columbia, passed away on 6 August 2024. George was born in Greenville, South Carolina on 3 July 1939 and made his home in Liberty, South Carolina.
George was predeceased by his parents George and Mary. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Emily Joyce Irby Goldsmith, who he attended school with since the sixth grade and their children, Jeffrey (Angie), Phillip (Carmen), and Ann Marie (David). He is survived by six grandchildren Gregory (Paige), Laura Grace, Emily, Jacob, Brady, and Selina, and two step grandchildren, Jesus and Deysi. He is also survived by his brother Benjamin (Diane) of Jacksonville, Florida and nieces and nephews.
After graduating from Liberty High School in 1957, George attended The Citadel, Charleston, SC, graduating in 1961 and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant through the ROTC program. In 1971, he received his master’s degree from Furman University, Greenville, SC. He is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College.
George entered the U.S. Army in February 1963 and served two years at Fort Benning, GA. as an Instructor in the Infantry School. After leaving active duty, he joined the 108th Training Division at Clemson, SC and served in this Division for 33 years. In 1995, he became the Commanding General on the 108th Training Division, Charlotte, NC.
From 1999-2001, he served as the Commanding General, U.S. Army Reserve Readiness Command, Fort Jackson, SC and Deputy Commanding General U.S. Army Reserve (IMA), Fort McPherson, GA. He retired from the U.S.Army Reserve in July of 2001. Following his retirement,he was honored by being appointed an Ambassador for the U.S. Army Reserve for the State of South Carolina, serving for 14 years.
Some of his military awards were the Distinguished Service Medal with One Oak Leaf Cluster, Legion of Merit with Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Service Medal from the North Carolina National Guard.
His civilian career began at Greenville Technical College in 1966 where he was Counselor, Evening Director, and Dean of Instruction. In 1972, he became the President of Beaufort Technical College, now Technical College of the Lowcountry.
From 2008-2014, was the South Carolina and North Carolina Program Support Manager for the Armed Forces Employer Partnership Program helping members of the Armed Forces find employment.
George was active in the Northeast Presbyterian Church where he served as Deacon, Elder, and Elder Emeritus. He attended the men’s bible study group on Tuesday mornings and was a member of the Good News Sunday School Class.
He volunteered with the United Way of Beaufort County, serving as President, and on the Board of Directors of the South Carolina United Way. He served as the 21stCommodore of the Beaufort County Water Festival and as President of the Beaufort Rotary Club. While living in Beaufort he was chairman of the Beaufort County Hospital Building Fund.
After moving to Columbia, SC in 1998, he was appointed Chairman of the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee where he was instrumental in obtaining approval from the Veterans Administration for a National Cemetery at Fort Jackson. One of his proudest moments was the establishing of the USO at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport. He was very fortunate to have worked with many volunteers from the Midlands who faithfully supported the deployments of Sailors who completed the Task Force Marshall training at Fort Jackson. He served on the Board of the Gateway to the Army in the construction of Centennial Park at Fort Jackson.
He was a member of the Spring Valley Rotary Club, the Association of United States Army (AUSA) where he was President and State President for many years. He was a member of the Military Order of World Wars (MOWW) and Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve. Heserved on the board of the Gateway to the Army which led to the building of Centennial Park on Fort Jackson.
In 2016, he was presented the Order of the Palmetto, the highest award given by the state of South Carolina and the Order of the Silver Crescent in 2001. He was honored with the Paul Harris Fellow from the Beaufort and Spring Valley Rotary Clubs. In 2008 and 2015, he was chosen the Military Advocate of the year by the Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce. The Blue Star Mothers honored him in 2013 with the Palmetto Patriots’ Award, and in 2014 he was chosen as one of the first inductees into the Fort Jackson Hall of Fame.
Visitation will be on Wednesday, August 14, 2024, from 11:00-12:30 at the Northeast Presbyterian Church, 601 Polo Rd, Columbia, South Carolina followed by the service at 12:30 officiated by the Rev. Dr. George Crow. The burial will be at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery with Military Honors at 2:00 p.m.
Memorials may be made to the South Carolina USO at
https://southcarolina.uso.org/ or
USO South Carolina
3250 Airport Blvd.
Suite 7
West Columbia, SC 29170