During the Summer of 2023, Nevada County lost a special couple, George and Githa Navo.
Their story began long ago, with the birth of George Carl Navo on October 15, 1930. George grew up in the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri and was one of 6 siblings. His childhood was tough, but filled with love. hard-work and adventure. George lived with his mother and siblings in a dirt floor garage and sold “found” golf balls back to the local golf course. George yearned to get away and “see the world,” so at the early age of 14, he left home to seek his fortune in New York by rail car. As a young adult, George served his country with honor and distinction as a member of the Army in the 82nd Airborne.
During this same time another was born, Githa Thorine Dorris was born in Nevada County on November 13, 1932. Githa was the 2nd oldest of 5 siblings, and also had a humble beginning as a daughter of a school teacher and mechanic/rancher. Githa worked hard with her family, and played softball, and when she was old enough, went to see the world and have some adventures of her own, by joining the Air Force.
Both George and Githa bravely answered the call of duty, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to freedom. This was a testament to their courage, resilience, and love for their country. Githa became a heavy equipment driver in the Air Force and through her deliveries met up with a “handsome” man in the Army named George. During this time, George was a cook for the Army and jumped out of many airplanes in the 82 airborne. In fact, he never walked off a landed plane in his life.
After 5 weeks of courtship, George and Githa were united in matrimony in Bennettsville, South Carolina on June 29, 1952. While in the military, they had their first child, Randy, also in North Carolina. After they were honorably discharged they made their way to George’s home town in St Louis and soon after; they gave birth to their 2nd son Gary.
Being the couple they were, they wanted to give a good start to their budding family and made the journey across the Country to Githa’s hometown in Nevada County. During their time in Nevada County, they were blessed with the birth of a daughter, Dawn, and two more sons, Kitt and Mark, all in Nevada County.
Both of them were known to be hard working and they did anything and everything to support their family. Githa’s careers included Bus Driver, Realtor, and her dream job as a Rural Carrier for our local post office. There are many in our County that will remember her driving them to school or delivering their mail.
At the same time, George was a serial entrepreneur and had started many different businesses. He bought and sold real estate, vehicles, did laundry services, and plumbing services. He even helped build the Bullards Bar Dam. With a background in plumbing, he saw this as the opportunity to help support his family. No matter how many times a business venture may have failed, he would get back up and work harder on the next.
In 1958, through the hard work of George, Githa and all of their children, they eventually created a family company, Navo & Sons. This was originally run out of their home near the Nevada County fairgrounds. This a just a small part of this family’s early years in our County.
Back in the 60’s and 70’s, the Navo family was active in church, softball, boy scouts, Elks club, and the Pine Tree quilting guild. I don’t think there was a child in town that didn’t spend time at the Navo home off Mc Courtney Road. The entire Navo family were spreading deep roots in our Community.
Some of their children stayed in the Company and others went their own way. Gary went on and became a very successful plumbing estimator for a very large plumbing company, in Berkeley. Dawn, having that adventuring spirit, moved away for awhile, but eventually came back to our area with a family of her own, and continues to work as a territory sale manager. Kitt followed Githa’s path and became a rural carrier for over 40 years before recently retiring. Randy and Mark continued to work and build the family company along with their families.
Through the success of the family company and other successful business ventures, George and Githa were able to retire early and handed the reigns of the family business to Randy and Mark. Retirement at an early age did not slow them down one bit. They where able to build their dream home, in Nevada County, on the property that Githa grew up on as a child.
After a few years their adventures continued, they drove a motorhome and traveled to every state in the continent including Alaska. Not only did they enjoy the drive, but also George never wanted to lose his “not landing” streak. During their travels, they met so many people all over this Country and made friends of complete strangers wherever they went. They would stop in one campground, make friends, then follow that group to see some festival three states away. For a decade they were very active as pylon judges for the Reno Air races. They both had a passion for planes and they would camp out at the pylon and enjoy the race.
They spent many years of excursions to far off places gone for weeks to months at a time, but always making it back home to Nevada County and their growing family of grandchildren, great-grand children, and even great-great-grand children. Githa and George never had a problem meeting people and striking up conversations with complete strangers, as many discovered while waiting in line at our local Starbucks or Walgreens. George and Githa’s lives were filled with connections with so many people.
As they started to “settle” down, they were still very active. George would spend his days hanging out in our County chatting up anyone, or scout the County for opportunities to buy or sell vehicles or equipment. Githa, on the other hand, had had a passion and skill to create quilts and had been making them her entire life for family and friends. Githa was very active in our local quilting guild and made quilts and other items that were donated to our military troops over seas or to fire victims in our neighboring Counties. George was very supportive of her passion and could be seen selling quilt raffle tickets to raise money for the Pine Tree Quilting guild’s charities.
As they got older, you would think that they would slow down, but that is not the Navo way. Even in their late eighties, George and Githa would go off-roading in their side by side around their property or cutting down broom brush (the plant that Githa really considered as “evil”). No matter what they were doing, at the end of the day, they would fall asleep holding each others hand, a thing that Githa cherished. Unfortunately, their adventures changed, and on Fathers day June 18, 2023, George Navo passed away in his home with his wife of almost 71 years. Then, 11 weeks later on September 3, 2023, Githa Navo joined her husband for their next adventure.
Even though George and Githa are gone, their impact on our community will last for decades though the entire Navo family. Their love of community, work ethic, and passion for adventure has been passed down generations, and is continuously being shown by the generations that still make Nevada County a home. They will be missed, but not forgotten.
A private service was held at the family home for George earlier this summer and a service for Githa is being held at Hooper & Weaver on Friday October 13th at 2:00pm, all friends and family are welcome to celebrate the life of this special couple.
