F. George Higham Jr. | Insurance executive, 79

F. George Higham Jr., 79, of Paoli, a retired insurance executive, died at home April 6 of complications of diabetes.

Mr. Higham joined his father's insurance company in Philadelphia in the late 1940s and later moved the firm to the Main Line. In addition to being president of F.G. Higham Agency, he was branch manager of the Philadelphia office of the Great West Life Assurance Co. for many years. He continued to operate his agency from his Paoli office until December, when he became ill.

Mr. Higham graduated from the Haverford School in 1945 and was class agent. In 2004 he received a special alumnus award for his dedication and service to the school. He attended Swarthmore College and served in the Coast Guard after World War II.

He served on the boards of the Northwestern Institute of Psychiatry in Ambler; the Nationalities Service Center of Philadelphia; and the Delaware Valley Hospital Association.

Mr. Higham was a member of the Colonial Society of Pennsylvania and the National Society of the Sons of the Revolution. His ancestor Richard Leedom was a Germantown Quaker and patriot during the Revolutionary War. Mr. Higham was a longtime member of the Union League and the Merion Cricket Club.

He is survived by his wife of more than 45 years, Diana Wareham Higham; a son, Gregg; a daughter, Lee Tinker; and a sister.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. May 7 at St. David's Church, 763 S. Valley Forge Rd., Radnor.

Memorial donations may be made to the Haverford School, Class of 1945, Haverford, Pa. 19041.