Dr. George Fredric Wollaston, 83, of Shippenville, died on September 6, 2017at the UPMC Northwest Hospital in Seneca.

Dr. Wollaston was a retired professor emeritus in chemistry and chemical education at Clarion University.  He is survived by his wife of 59 ½ years, Twila Mae Hedegor Wollaston whom he met as a student at the then Clarion State Teachers College.  In addition to his wife he is survived by his sons Edward of Pearland TX, Timothy of Shippenville and a daughter Terriann Rankin and her husband Jeffery of Rimersburg.  He is also survived by his granddaughters Emille Rankin of Rimersburg, Jessica Wollaston of Lamartine and Angelia Dehart and her husband Jared of Cropps Corners; his great grandson Lucas Dehart and a daughter in law Lori Wollaston of Lamartine.

George was preceded in death by his son Jeffery L. Wollaston in January of 2011, his parents George A. and Jane c. Wollaston of Warren, PA and a brother Edward A. Wollaston.

Dr. Wollaston graduated from Warren High School, Warren, PA in 1953.  He received his B.S. in Ed. Degree from Clarion State Teachers College now Clarion University of PA in 1957 majoring in chemistry.  He began his teaching career in the fall of 1957 at Youngsville High School teaching chemistry and general science.  During the summer of 1958 he was awarded a General Electric Fellowship for teachers in chemistry and physics at Case Institute of Technology now Case-Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH.

While working on his master’s degree he was hired by Clarion in 1961 to teach chemistry and the physical sciences.  He was awarded his master’s degree in the physical sciences from the Pennsylvania State University in 1964.  He also received a National Science Foundation grant during this time from the Pennsylvania University while working on his degree.

During his tenure teaching at Clarion he received fellowships from the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission, now the U.S. Nuclear regulatory Commission, to study bionucleonics and radioisotope technology at Perdue Universtiy in 1964.  He continued his studies by being awarded two fellowships from Texas A & M University during the summer of 1966 in nuclear technology and neutron activation analysis.  Having a strong interest in working with undergraduates and the preparation of chemistry teacher he began to concentrate on chemical education.  He returned to college to pursue his doctorate at the University of Pittsburgh receiving the Ph.D. in 1980.  While at Clarion he coordinated the general chemistry and laboratory experiences for several years.  Additionally he was the academic advisor for all chemistry education students and supervised their student teaching experiences as well.  While serving on the faculty he was active in many campus activities and governance committees including the faculty senate where he served as president, the university-wide tenure committee serving as president for several years, and many other departmental and campus-wide committees.  He presented numerous papers on science teaching at both state and national meetings of professional science educators.  He retired in the fall of 1997 as a full professor of chemistry and emeritus status.

Dr. Wollaston and Mrs. Wollaston owned and operated Wollaston House Kennels for about 25 years.  Together they raised black great danes and English bulldogs.  They showed extensively throughout the eastern United States at American Kennel Club Shows.  In 1993 he and his wife and son Timothy started Wollaston Leasing and Rental, Inc. a car rental company.  They added in 1995 Clarion County Taxi, Inc to better serve the transportation needs of the area.  He continued to take an active role in daily operations of the companies but to a lesser degree.

George was a 50 year plus mason having first joined Stillwater Lodge 546 in Youngsville and later transferring to Edenburg Lodge 550 in Knox.  He was a member of the Scottish Rite and belonged to the Valley of the Oil City’s Venango Lodge of Perfection and the Valley of New Castle.  In 2006 he was coroneted a 33 degree Scottish Rite Mason for his service.  At New Castle he also received the Valley Service Award where he served as the Sovereign Prince of the body Princes of Jerusalem.  At New Castle he also served on the Board of Directors of the Cathedral Foundation that oversees the daily operations and the upkeep of the Cathedral building.  He and Mrs. Wollaston also served as the advisors for the Colligate rainbow Girls for several years at Clarion University.

One of the Scottish Rite masons major charities is helping children diagnosed as being dyslexic.  Dr. Wollaston organized the planning committee and oversaw the construction start up of the Center for Dyslexic Children of Western PA located in the Cathedral building at New Castle.  He served as chairman of the Board of Governors for a year and then remained on the board for ten more years stepping down as an emeritus member.

He was particularly proud of the Dr. George and Twila Wollaston endowed athletic scholarship which they had started to assist Clarion University students in men’s baseball and women’s basketball.

During his professional career he was active in several professional organizations, among them the Pennsylvania Science Teachers Association, the National Science Teachers Association, and the American Chemical Society and its Division of Chemical Education.

In the community Dr. Wollaston had been active in the Clarion Little League for several years as a coach and an umpire.  When the Clarion Senior League was started it was the responsibility of the vice president to be in charge of the senior league for boys 13-15 years of age.  At this job he coached, umpired and organized the program.  He and his wife were active in the Democratic Party for several years and he served on the county tax appeals and assessment board for over 20 years.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM on Saturday at the McEntire-Weaver Funeral Home 504 East Penn Ave., Knox.  Edenburg Lodge 550 will perform the Masonic service at 8 PM Saturday in the funeral home.  Interment will take place at the Clarion Protestant Cemetery.

Both he and his wife Twila have an interest in helping to develop the Cancer Center at the Clarion Hospital in memory of their son Jeffery.  In lieu of flowers can be made to the Clarion Hospital Foundation or the Dr. George and Twila Wollaston Scholarship. 

To view and share photos or leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.mcentire-weaverfuneralhome.com.

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