George T. Guernsey, 70, Dies at St. Louis Home
Episcopal News Service. April 23, 1987 [87088_Z]
ST. LOUIS, (DPS, April 23) -- George T. Guernsey III, 70, one of the best-known and best-liked lay leaders of the Episcopal Church, died at his home in St. Louis County, here, on April 10.
Guernsey was first elected a deputy to the General Convention in 1967 and had been elected to every subsequent General Convention, including 1988. He was a member of Executive Council from 1970 until 1979 and had just returned to his home from a board meeting of The Episcopalian in New York when he died in his sleep of a heart attack.
At the time of his death, he was a trustee of two seminaries, Virginia Theological Seminary and the Episcopal Divinity School, of St. Augustine's College, Raleigh, N.C., and was on the board of The Episcopalian. Over the years, he had been a member and often the chair of many national Church groups -- the Evangelical Education Society, the Presiding Bishop's Fund for World Relief, United Thank Offering Committee, the Venture in Mission Committee of 200 and the Episcopal Church Foundation. He was general chairman of the 1964 General Convention, which was held in St. Louis.
As a 50-year member of Christ Church Cathedral, here, he had served in many capacities on the Cathedral Chapter and as a lay reader and chalice bearer. In the Diocese, he has served several times on the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council. He often commented that he has "lasted through four bishops, five deans and five organists."
A big man -- and burdened by ill health in recent years -- he nevertheless always displayed an energy, forthrightness and insight that made him a valued colleague on committees and boards. He belied the image of a cold bank executive -- he was executive vice-president and then president of the Commerce Bank of St. Louis for 33 years -- by his passionate defense of society's victims and a vigorous advocacy of corporate activism at a time when the latter was not an accepted church tactic.
His energy extended into his work and community life, too. After the Commerce Bank was sold in 1981, he was retained as a consultant in the new firm and continued to serve clients until his death. He was for 20 years chairman of a public housing corporation in St. Louis and chaired the Urban League there in the mid-1980's.
Guernsey was a native of Kansas and a graduate of both the University of Kansas and the University of Wisconsin.
The burial office was read in Christ Church Cathedral on April 14 by the Rt. Rev. William A. Jones and the Very Rev. J. C. Michael Allen. The Rev. Dabney Carr of Virginia Theological Seminary gave the homily.
Guernsey is survived by his widow, Margaret Allen Marquis, two sons, George T. Guernsey IV of Chicago and the Rev. John A. Guernsey of Woodbridge, Va., and two grandsons.