‘Mayor of G Street’ loved to fly planes, read about history

George Harry Bedrosian Sr., Navy veteran and co-owner of what was once Bedrosian Truck Service, died Friday at 92 of natural causes, his family said.

Mr. Bedrosian was a co-proprietor of the truck service station his father Avedis Bedrosian opened on Fresno’s G Street in 1929, which he eventually turned over to Mr. Bedrosian and his brother Peter. The two ran the business for more than 50 years until their retirement and selling of the station in 2003. The same year, the Fresno City Council named a day “Bedrosian Truck Service Day,” according to his family.

A regular in the area since the age of 5, Mr. Bedrosian earned the nickname “The Mayor of G Street” from all who made contact with him because of his selfless and caring acts, his family says.

In a 2003 article in The Bee, Mr. Bedrosian recalled leaving the office years before to collect $50 from a long overdue account and coming back with $5 less. He had given it to the customer’s children for milk and groceries. “We did those kind of things because we grew up during a time when you helped each other out,” he said. When a stray dog began hanging around the station, Mr. Bedrosian gave him food and water and named him Duke, his family says. Duke became a close member of the family.

Born in Fresno on Nov. 7, 1924, Bedrosian was one of five siblings. He graduated from Washington Union High School in 1943 and joined the Navy in 1944 as a crew chief in charge of aircraft hydraulic systems and engines of fighter planes. He was stationed on the USS Saginaw Bay and was a part of battles at Okinawa, Iwo Jima, the Phillipines and the Marshall and Admiral islands.

He often said of his service: “I left home as a young boy and returned as a young man.”

After two years in the Navy, Mr. Bedrosian returned to Fresno and began working at his father’s business as an automotive engineer.

In 1949, he married Margaret Nahigian from Fowler, and she was his wife for 51 years until her passing in 2000.

A licensed pilot, Mr. Bedrosian loved to fly planes and learn about World War II history. Although he flew his last plane more than 15 years ago, his family says it meant a lot to him. Mr. Bedrosian also knew karate and loved to read and play pinochle.

Mr. Bedrosian was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Elks Lodge and he attended St. Paul Armenian Church. His brothers Peter and Johnnie, and sister Nevart preceded him in death.

Mr. Bedrosian’s daughter Diane Hagobian said she will miss her father’s wisdom and life lessons the most. “He taught us to care about family, and he was very respectful and hardworking,” she said. “He was very honest; he believed in integrity.”

This story was originally published June 21, 2017 at 3:14 PM with the headline "‘Mayor of G Street’ loved to fly planes, read about history."