METAIRIE — Services for George Wilbur Flach, 88, who died Sunday, Aug. 2, 2009, after a very courageous battle with leukemia, were Aug. 7, at Lake Lawn Cemetery in Metairie, La.

George served as a bomber pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II and flew bombing missions over Europe. He retired from the Air Force as a Lieutenant Colonel. George Flach was the chief electrical inspector for the City of New Orleans and secretary to the Board of Electrical Examiners from 1953 through 1985. He was a member of the Board of Directors, International Association of Electrical Inspectors, and member of the executive committee of the Southern Section, IAEI. At the Southern Section annual meetings, he was the moderator during the code discussions. He was a senior member of the Institute of Electronic & Electrical Engineers. He was past chairman of the George Welman Chapter of IAEI, past president of the Southern Section IAEI, and past president of the Chief Electrical Inspector Section of the National Fire Protection Association. He was a registered professional engineer in the state of Louisiana and a certified electrical safety engineer in IAEI.

He served as general chairman for IAEI’s 50th anniversary meeting in New Orleans in 1978. In 1982 George was elected to serve as the international president of IAEI. He was chairman of Code-Making Panel 15 of the National Electrical Code Committee, member of the Correlating Committee on Building Construction, member of the Legally Required Emergency and Standby Power Supplies Committee and member of the Chapter 7 Subcommittee of NFPA 20-Centrifugal Fire Pumps. Much of his spare time was devoted to writing articles dealing with electrical safety and the National Electrical Code. His answers to questions appeared in the “Focus on the Code Column” in the IAEI News and he had a monthly column, “Code Q&A” in “Electrical Contractor” magazine. His articles on electrical safety and electric heating appeared in numerous electrical periodicals. In 1981, Prentice-Hall, Inc. published his book, “Changes in the 1981 Electrical Code.” Flach was an expert witness on matters dealing with the National Electrical Code and National Electrical Safety Code and often appeared in court on cases dealing with fires of suspected electrical origin. In 2006, George received the inaugural plaque from the Southern Section for his dedicated lifetime of service to the Southern Section. This plaque now bears his name, “George Flach Lifetime Service Award,” when it is awarded to other recipients. In February 2009, George received a “20 years of Service” award from National Armored Cable Manufacturer’s Association at its semi-annual meeting in New Orleans. He was recognized in March 2009 with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Southeast Louisiana Chapter IAEI organization for his “Career of Dedication and Service” to the electrical community. Also in March 2009, George received a Certificate of Appointment as a Member Emeritus National Electrical Code to serve on Code-Making Panel 13. George dedicated his life to his wife, children and the local, national and international electrical community.

Mr. Flach was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou Flach; son, Gary George Flach; parents, Henry A. Flach and Amelia Muhs Flach; brother, Howard E. Flach; and sister, Shirley Flach Vasquez.

Survivors include two sons, Bryan P. Flach and wife Dawnelle of Jefferson, La.; and Dennis C. Flach and wife Mary of Natchez; three grandchildren: Lauren Flach Battistini of Tomball, Texas, Andrew “Drew” Bryan Flach of Natchez, and Ryan Flach of New Orleans; one sister, Lillian Flach Creighton; and one nephew, Bruce P. Creighton.