George Ernest Brake, 58, of York Township, died as a result of a traffic accident Wednesday morning near his home. He was born April 4, 1957, in Kenton, Ohio, the son of the late Carl Brake and Virginia Jean (May) Brake. On April 22, 1979, he married the love of his life, Kathy Brake (formerly Miller), who survives. Other family members include four sons, James (Chesley) Brake of Hoytville, Ohio, Mark Brake of Guam, Levi Brake at home and Johnathan Brake at home; their beloved friend, Keith (Kendra) Thompson of Van Wert; a daughter, Ann Brake at home; four brothers, Greg (Kim) Brake of Atlanta, Georgia, Larry P. Banta of Van Wert, Mark A. (Renee) Banta of Monroe, Michigan, and Mark (Emily) Young of Lima; three sisters, Kathy S. Banta of Van Wert, Carla (Mike) Swank of Urbana, Ohio, and Sarah (Phillip) Grahm of Urbana; his mother-in-law, Roberta Miller of Van Wert; and stepmother, Sally Culp of Urbana, Ohio. He was preceded in death by a sister, Sheila Breslin and a brother, David Leigh Brake. George was a 1975 graduate of Van Wert High School and attended Wright State University. He attended Ohio City Community Church of God. He was serving as the Director of the Van Wert County Solid Waste Management District. He was a board member of Midwest Electric Cooperative and chairman of the Ohio Rural Electric Cooperative. He was also active in the jail ministry in Van Wert. Services will be held at 1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015, at Calvary Evangelical Church in Van Wert, with Pastor Randy Bevington officiating. Interment will follow at Tomlinson Cemetery, Union Township, Mercer County. Calling hours are Tuesday 1 - 8 p.m., at Cowan & Son Funeral Home and one hour prior to services Wednesday at the Church.