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Countless individuals mourned the loss of George Lee Grow on March 21, 2024, an icon in the history of Mount Pisgah Academy (MPA). Although many have heard about his passing, few knew him as well as his friends, coworkers, and students.
Grow was born August 13, 1945, in Columbus, Ohio, to George and Louise Grow. During his childhood, his family took a road trip from Ohio to Florida, stopping to spend the night at Mount Pisgah Academy. The beauty of the campus and the Great Smoky Mountains, as well as the kindness of the people there, left a lasting impression on him that years later played a factor in him choosing MPA for his first employment.
After graduating from Mount Vernon Academy, he went on to study chemistry at Andrews University, in pursuit of one day becoming a science teacher. In the spring of his senior year, he received job offers from four academies, ultimately choosing MPA because of the positive feelings he still had from his childhood visit there.
After his girlfriend, Linda Freese, graduated from Andrews University in August, the two were married in Alma, Mich., before rushing down to MPA where George would begin his first year of teaching. It was difficult at first, but he learned that he truly enjoyed being a teacher, and he was determined to keep at it. While at MPA, he taught a total of 15 classes at various times. Through all of this, he earned his master of arts in education from Western Carolina University in the summer of 1979. As the years went by and he became a popular teacher, calls would come from other schools; however, he and Linda were committed to MPA and refused all invitations.
From early on in their relationship, they mutually agreed that they would choose not to have children. One main reason in his mind was that he wanted to be able to devote himself to his students. He felt that if he had children of his own, they might detract from the time he could give to his students — or vice versa.
Grow had many interests outside of the classroom, including cars, music, birdwatching, and photography. He was often seen with a camera in hand, capturing moments in nature.
In 2011, Grow retired after 43 years of service to Mount Pisgah Academy. He was honored with a retirement banquet that April, at which time it was announced that the lab classroom in the Ad Building would now be called the “George Grow Science Lab.”
Grow’s influence will be greatly missed, not only at MPA but in the local church, community, and throughout the Carolina Conference. His deep concern for young people has left a lasting impression. He is survived by his loving wife, Linda, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Special thanks to John Ratzlaff for excerpts from his Life Sketch, which can be seen at http://bit.ly/3TLggWz.
Carolina | August 2024
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