Mr. George P. Jingles, of Croton Dam, age 90, did not make his 91st birthday party.  "Popeye" would have turned 91 on March 10th, but passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday night, February 8th at the Fountain View Retirement Village in Grant, Michigan.  He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, the son of Ursula (Jickevicius) and Adolph Dzingelis, on March 10, 1913. 

In 1941 he was the first of the "Jingles' Clan" to move to Grand Rapids, Michigan to look for future employment and change his Lithuanian last name from Dzingelis to Jingles, all of his four brothers and one sister followed him and did the same.  He was a Tool and Die Maker by trade for McGilsie Tool & Die for 40 years until his retirement in 1967.  His summer cottage at Croton Dam now became his home with his wife Mary Bertha (Vai Vada) Jingles, married February 18, 1939 in Grand Rapids, who had preceded him in death in May, 1996.  They had been married for 55 glorious years.

"Popeye" as he was affectionately known (because he always wore his son's old sailor hats) was a Life Member of Saints George, Peter & Paul Aid Society and Vytautas Aid Society in Grand Rapids.  He was also a Member of the Sons of the American Legion Squadron #178 in Grandville, and a member of the Newaygo County Sportsman's Club of Newaygo.  He was former member of St. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Grand Rapids and St. Bartholomew Catholic Church in Newaygo.  He was an avid hunter of deer and small game, and loved to fish from his home on the Croton Dam backwaters. 

Surviving are his children, son George K. Jingles of Croton and daughter Linda M. Budnick also of Croton.  He has left behind seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, February 12, 2004, 10:00 A. M. at the McKinley Funeral Home in Newaygo with Father Loc Trinh officiating.  Visitation will be Wednesday, February 11, 2004 from 2-4 & 7-9 P. M. and again Thursday from 9:00 A. M. until service time.  Burial will be at Croton Cemetery next to his wife.