Cousin Tom Pottinger has alerted me to another passing…the youngest son of Craig Pottinger (Craig was one of the originators of our modern day Pottenger-Pottinger Reunion)... Ron
 GEORGE EARL POTTINGER
Aug. 10, 1927 to Jan. 26, 2018
George Earl Pottinger, known to family and friends as “Earl,” was born in Nogales, Arizona on Aug. 10,1927. Earl was the youngest son of Craig and Sadie Pottinger, founders of the Nogales International Newspaper. Earl graduated from Nogales High School in 1945 and joined the U.S. Navy where he served during WWII on the USS Texas Battleship and USS Begor High Speed Transport. After WWII, Earl graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor of science degree in physical education. He was a Kappa Sig Fraternity member, and a 1997 Hall of Fame Inductee.
In 1951, Earl joined the U.S. Air Force and was sent to Alaska. He was a player and coach on the Elmendorf Air Force Base Rockets and helped lead his football team to the championship. After serving 37 years in the Reserves, Earl retired as a lieutenant colonel. He earned the Air Force Commendation Medal, Outstanding Unit Award, American Theater Campaign Medal, Asia Pacific Medal and WWII Victory Medal.
Earl was an insurance agent in Tucson and Nogales from 1953 to 1970. During this period he opened Pottinger & Mora Insurance Agency. Subsequently he managed his own restaurant in Nogales for 18 years. After selling Pottinger’s Steak House, he was a substitute teacher in Nogales and a real estate investor.
He loved golf and founded the Pottinger Invitational Golf Tournament in the early '70s, which is still being played annually in Tubac. Earl also founded the Pottinger Golf Group which is comprised of local and winter golfers throughout the United States.
Earl is survived by his wife Marilyn Pottinger, and has five children: Scott Pottinger of Tubac, Kevin Pottinger of Keller, TX, Christopher Pottinger and Cynthia Spotleson both of Scottsdale, and Patrick Pottinger of Phoenix. Earl has three stepchildren with Marilyn: Jim Connolly and Lisa Connolly, both of Tucson, and Kit Rendon of Rio Rico.
Earl passed away on Jan. 26, 2018 under Soulistic Hospice care at the Villas in Green Valley, Arizona. His funeral service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Feb. 10 at St. Francis-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church, 600 S. La Canada Drive, Green Valley, Arizona.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Animal League of Green Valley, 1600 W. Duval Mine Road, Green Valley, AZ 85614.
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