Obituary: George Wombwell
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August 19, 1931 – February 7, 2026
George Wombwell, 94, died Saturday February 7th, 2026 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was born in 1931 in Lexington, Kentucky, the youngest child of Joseph Henry and Josephine Burkley Wombwell. His father died of pneumonia before his birth, leaving George to make his own way in life, career, and family.
He graduated from Lexington’s University High School and the University of Kentucky, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After earning an MBA degree from Harvard Business School, he served in the U.S. Army Adjutant General’s Corps as an enlisted man.
After completing his education and military service, George moved to Louisville to work for WAVE-TV, where he became Controller, followed by becoming a vice president of the old Federal Chemical Company. He then joined First National Bank and Kentucky Trust Company, where he became Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer of the banks and their parent, First Kentucky National Corp. Upon the merger with National City Corp., he became Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of National City until his retirement.
George was also Chairman of the Harrods Creek Fire Protection District for ten years. He would avidly listen to his police and fire radio at night, and was known to show up at the station after fire runs with a cooler full of drinks and mass quantities of White Castle sliders for the firefighters. He also served as a member of the Louisville-Jefferson County Board of Health, and was formerly a member of the Louisville Country Club, Tavern Club and the Benedicts.
After retiring in 1991, George and his wife Edie made their principal home in Aspen, Colorado, where he became chairman of the county government’s financial advisory board, treasurer and endowment fund organizer for the non-denominational Aspen Chapel, and a volunteer supervisor at the summer Aspen Music Festival. At age 62, he made his first attempt at downhill skiing and became an avid, slow-learning regular. He returned to Louisville full time in 2015.
George was predeceased by his wife of 62 years, Edie Norman Wombwell; his sister Nancy and her husband William Preston, and his brother, Joseph “Buddy” Wombwell and his wife Barbara, all of Lexington; and his sister Mary Allen Greathouse and her husband John of Midway. He is survived by his sons David (Amy) of Louisville, Van (Mirka della Cava) of Denver, and Andy (Alex Hinton) of Burbank, California; three grandchildren, Allie Wise (Brian) and Jim Wombwell of Louisville, and Sarah Wiskind (Sam) of Atlanta; four great granddaughters, Katherine, Emily, and Lucy Wise, and Charlotte Wiskind; and 20 nephews and nieces.
George enjoyed doing genealogical research, which he shared with his family. He was pleased to discover that he was a 26th generation descendant of Robert deWombwell of Wombwell in Yorkshire England, the earliest ancestor to use a surname, and a tenth generation descendant of Jamestown colonist and planter Thomas Wombwell.
George spent the final decade of his life living at Treyton Oak Tower in Old Louisville. There he forged many cherished new friendships and enjoyed the cultural programming and the stimulating conversations, especially those at the breakfast table. He proudly hosted three generations of family at Sunday brunch for the past several years, which his great granddaughters especially loved. The family is extremely grateful to these special friends and the wonderful Treyton staff.
A visitation and memorial service are being planned for a later date. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.
