Obituary of George L. Barone

George L. Barone, Jr, 78, of 2109 Southwestern Dr. Lakewood, NY, passed away peacefully at 1:40 pm Wednesday, January 20, 2021, in his home. An area resident for most of his life, he was born December 15, 1942 in Jamestown, NY, a son of the late George L. and Gladys G. Wullenweber Barone, Sr. He was a 1962 graduate of Southwestern Central School where he played on the baseball team. He also took courses at Jamestown Community College and the State University of New York at Fredonia. Before his retirement years, he was employed as a Supervisor for the R.L. Polk Company and in earlier years owned and operated the Ashville Grocery Store and later was a salesman for the Jock Shop. He also worked for a short time for his brother Tony at the Lakewood Drug Store. While living in Clearwater Florida for several years he worked as a youth director at the Pinellas Park Boys and Girls Club. George Barone was the epitome of a true baseball fan. It's hard to find a man who loved baseball and youth more than George. He has coached baseball in Chautauqua County and surrounding area for 64 years. He began coaching baseball as a 13 year old assistant in the former Cub League in Lakewood and went on to manage the Lakewood Indians and the Lakewood Cardinals. He managed in the Southwestern area for 33 years. Among the teams he coached were the Southwestern Expos in the East Lake 13-15 Babe Ruth League and also led the East Lake babe Ruth All Star teams on several occasions and served as President of the East Lake Babe Ruth League. During his 31 years as part of the Jamestown Babe Ruth League, he served as Vice President and managed several teams including the TRW, Thule Lodge, Viking Lodge, Hills and the Jock Shop teams as well as multiple 13-14 year old and 15 year old all star teams. In the Chautauqua County Babe Ruth League, he mentored the 16-18 year old Lakewood Sox, the Chautauqua County 16-18 year old All Stars and the Chautauqua County Travel Team. A major highlight of his coaching career was having his 1984 16-18 year old All Star Team compete in the Babe Ruth World Series at College Stadium. Over the years he won eight District Babe Ruth titles, four New York State Babe Ruth titles and went to regional tournaments twice. In most recent years he was the organizer and manager of the Chautauqua County Travelers 15-18 year old team that competed in tournaments in Orlando, FL and Fullerton, CA, Toronto, Montreal, Cooperstown, NY, and won championships in Winter Haven, Fl. Other coaching and managerial stops for Barone were at Southwestern Central High School, Jamestown Community College, the Ohio-Pennsylvania Fall Baseball League and the Chautauqua County Men's Baseball League. He also coached female ballplayers with the Southwestern Central School softball team and the Southwestern Area Girls Hardball League. George ran many baseball clinics for are youth and the mentally challenged. He was a proud dad and enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He devoted himself to helping the youth and had a tremendous loved for his ballplayers and assistants coach's. George was very active in local organizations including a former member of the board of directors for the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame where he served as Vice President and Banquet Chairman, the Lakewood-Busti Golden Agers, Lakewood Area Junior Miss Pageant, Lakewood Area Jaycees, was the founder of the Lakewood-Busti Youth Center, a member of the Lakewood-Busti Recreation Committee and beautification Committee and was also involved with the American Cancer Society and the United Way. George's final honor was being inducted into the Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame on January 14, 2021. Surviving are his children; Brooke (Heather) Barone of Jamestown, NY, Kristin (Michelle Giglio) Barone of Rochester, NY, Adam Barone of Brooklyn, NY, five grandchildren; Lucia Barone of Brooklyn, Mclachlan and Harper Barone, Owen and Aysia Reed, his former wife and best friend, Victoria "Vicky" Barone all of Jamestown, as well as nieces Lisa (Willie) Wallace, Dana (Thomas) Lovecchio, and Lori (Michael) Dornberger and their families. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Taylor Christine Barone, his brother, Anthony "Tony" Barone and his first wife, Carolyn Barone. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 am Monday in Holy Apostles Parish at Ss. Peter & Paul Catholic Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende, pastor will be celebrant. Burial will be in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. Masks must be worn and seating every other pew is required in the church for social distancing. The service will also be live streamed at www.facebook.com/lindfuneralhomeinc/ Monday at 10 am. The family will receive friends on a walk through basis from 1-3 pm Sunday in the Lind Funeral Home. Social distancing and masks must be worn while inside the funeral home. Out of respect for those that cannot travel or attend the service due to Covid-19 or other issues, a summer outdoor dedication and social distant gathering is expected to be announced at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, 1645 West Eighth St. Erie, PA, 16505, the St. Jude's Children's Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to the George Barone Memorial Fund, Go Fund Me Account. .