George & Evelyn Ghearing YMCA Fund

The George & Evelyn Ghearing YMCA Fund was created in 2019 as an anonymous fund to support the Marion Family YMCA, specifically providing grants for youth programming and enrichment–preschool, child care, camps, youth sports, and youth membership scholarships. Following the passing of both George (1924-2019) and Evelyn (1926-2026), the fund now carries their name, as well as their wishes — to support Marion youth through the YMCA.

The Ghearings met as children and, shortly after their high school graduation, they wed. World War II changed George’s career plans and Evelyn’s life plans. They welcomed their sons, Gerry and Gilbert, after the war.

George enrolled in extension classes with Ohio Northern University and completed a degree in business in 1965. Evelyn followed, earning her degree in education three years later. She began her teaching career while George traveled the world on assignments with GTE. Both careers settled in Marion, GTE’s state headquarters for George and the Marion City Schools for Evelyn.

By 1984, they were both retired and founded GRG Telecommunications, Inc. George continued to travel the world on behalf of their new venture while Evelyn managed the company in the United States. This enterprise continued to flourish, employing nearly 100 people and included trips to Burma for the United Nations and to Grenada on behalf of AID, a federal government program providing assistance to foreign nations. George’s career also took him to Guatemala, Brazil, Russia, Nigeria, Egypt, and the Dominican Republic. George and Evelyn eventually retired from their entrepreneurial adventure in 2002.

The Ghearings community support includes Ohio State Marion, Marion County Historical Society, Marion Family YMCA, and their church, Cornerstone Alliance.