NORMAL - George Petrossian, 88, of 808 Livingston Drive, Normal, died at 4:18 a.m. Tuesday (Feb. 24, 2009) at Eureka Community Hospital, Eureka.

His funeral will be at noon Saturday at Carmody-Flynn Williamsburg Funeral Home, Bloomington. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery, Ann Arbor, Mich. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Illinois State University Department of Romance Languages.

George was born Sept. 30, 1920, in Tsaghkadzor, Armenia, the son of Mihran and Vanouhi Petrossian. He married Natica DeLattre. She preceded him in death.

He is survived by two daughters, Tanya (Ed) Hauck and Rima Petrossian; and two grandchildren, Kyra and Corinne Hauck.

George received his education from the University of Michigan and was a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army, serving during World War II.

He was a professor of French culture, literature and language at Illinois State University, was in charge of the ISU summer study abroad in Grenoble, France, for over 30 years and was also in charge of the French Coffee Hour at ISU for 44 years.

George received the Chevalier dans l'ordre des Palmes Academique award from the French government in 1994 for his devotion and success for bringing the French culture and language to students in Illinois.

George was fluent in seven languages, enjoyed tennis, reading, research and oil painting.