George E Lydiard Jr, 79, known to all as Chip, passed away peacefully on May 30, 2026, in Orlando, FL surrounded by his wife and sons. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who loved spending time with his family and friends and will be missed by all that knew him. 

He was born on October 7, 1946, in Glen Ridge, New Jersey. Chip got his lifelong nickname from a nurse in the hospital the day after he was born who said “my, he is chipper today” when she brought him to his mother.

His family moved to Ft. Lauderdale, Florida in 1959. He later moved to Lake Worth, FL where he attended and graduated from Lake Worth High School, joining the Army in 1967, and attended Palm Beach Community College where he met his wife Kathy in 1970. They married on May 27, 1972. They have two sons, Edward and Michael and two grandsons, Matthew and Nathan.

Chip was known for his easy-going nature and great sense of humor. He enjoyed working on cars, riding motorcycles, being an electrician and helping people. Most of all he loved being with his family. His pride and joy were his two sons and his two grandsons.

His favorite story to tell was meeting Walt Disney at Disneyland on July 21, 1955, the third day the park was open, and getting to speak with Mr. Disney and shake his hand. Chip would shake people’s hand and tell them they were shaking Walt’s hand by extension.

Chip is survived by Kathy, his wife of 54 years, sons Edward and Michael (Kristina) Lydiard, grandsons Matthew and Nathan Lydiard, brother Robert (Megan) Lydiard, sister-in-law Karen Hill, nephews Jim Hill and John Lydiard and extended family. He was preceded in death by his father George E. Lydiard Sr. and Mother Hildegard Lydiard.

A celebration of life service will be held at Woodlands Lutheran Church, 15333 County Road 455, Montverde, FL at 10:00AM on Friday, July 31, 2026, to be followed in the afternoon by the committal service with military honors at Florida National Cemetery, 6502 SW 102 Avenue, Bushnell, FL at 2:00PM.