George T. Ekdahl died peacefully April 25, 2016 he was 96. George was born January 14, 1920 in Chicago, IL the son of Elmer and Alma Ekdahl. George grew up in Chicago and Columbus, Ohio where he became a life long fan of Ohio State University Football. In 1934 George bought his first bird dog and competed in his first Field Trial at the age of 14, beginning his life long love affair with the sport of Field Trials and English Setters. George graduated from Central High School in Columbus in 1939 and joined the Army Air Corp during WWII. He spent most of his war years as a pilot and training for service with the OSS. After the war George attended Ohio State on the GI Bill. George was a mechanical engineer specializing in designing and installing conveyer belt systems and supplying chemical solvents to food and beverage plants for several chemical companies. He worked with Economics Laboratories and The Alex C. Fergusson Company and later started his own company EPIC Chemical Company in 1970. He started his own company when he was in his fifties and continued to work until he was 85 years old. He hit his stride in his middle age and was at the height of his business creativity and his work with bird dogs during this time. George was a founding member of the Columbus All Breed Training Club of Columbus Ohio. He was also active in field trialing with both the AKC and The American Field. He was one of the first wave of handlers to introduce Weimaraners into the United States and focused on breeding, showing and field trialing the breed. He met his wife Priscilla at a dog obedience class where he was the instructor. He later focused on breeding English Setters and running trials and participating in field trials sanctioned by The American Field Trial Association. George was a leading voice in both The Happy Valley Field Trial Club and The Brandywine Bird Dog Club and a past president of both clubs, running at least two field trials a year for both clubs as well as "fun" trials to introduce others to the sport. In the early 1970's George left The Happy Valley Club to concentrate on The Brandywine Bird Dog Club. He was also a past president and leader of the Brandywine Gun Club and a past president of The Eastern Field Trial Association. George was a savvy breeder and competitor and was known for having champions for decades from the 1950's through the 2000's. He was proud to have owned and competed with Ultimate Reissue who in the year 2000, won The National Amateur Pheasant Shooting Dog Champion title. George took the time to mentor young handlers and novice handlers, and gave many people their first judging assignments, he would often give a dog to someone with an interest in the sport provided that they would hunt it or trial it. George was married to Priscilla Alden Ekdahl, a psychologist and a large supporter of his many dog related hobbies, he is survived by his two daughters Elizabeth Ogard of De Pere, WI and Roberta Ekdahl of West Chester, PA. He was a proud veteran, an active voter, a sharp and clear minded man with an opinion and a point of view. Funeral plans are private and a memorial service will be planned for a future date.