Gordon Brinthaupt, Jr. passed away peacefully the early evening of January 4, 2018 at his home in Gillett, PA, attended by family.
He was born April 30, 1918, in Elmira, NY, the son of Gordon E. Brinthaupt, Sr. of Elmira and Ethel (Fish) Brinthaupt of Blackwell, PA.
He is survived by his wife, Lula Mae (Love) Brinthaupt, his wife of 75 years. He is also survived by: a son, Gordon E. Brinthaupt III and his wife Patricia (Freakley) of Nassau, NY; grandson Russell Brinthaupt also of Nassau; daughter, Suzanne (Brinthaupt) Niver and her husband Frank of Gillett, PA; brother-in-law, Orson Love and wife Catherine, Oregon Hill, plus many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased in 1972 by one sister, Jeanne (Brinthaupt) Kocourek.
In 1942 Gordon married Lula Mae Love of Oregon Hill, PA. The couple lived in Elmira, and Gordon worked first at International Harvester, and then for the Pennsylvania Railroad beginning in 1941. After the onset of World War II, he joined the 718th Railway Operating Battalion sponsored by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Basic army training occurred at Indiantown Gap, PA, then on to Camp Claybourne, Louisiana for military railroad training.
He was born April 30, 1918, in Elmira, NY, the son of Gordon E. Brinthaupt, Sr. of Elmira and Ethel (Fish) Brinthaupt of Blackwell, PA.
He is survived by his wife, Lula Mae (Love) Brinthaupt, his wife of 75 years. He is also survived by: a son, Gordon E. Brinthaupt III and his wife Patricia (Freakley) of Nassau, NY; grandson Russell Brinthaupt also of Nassau; daughter, Suzanne (Brinthaupt) Niver and her husband Frank of Gillett, PA; brother-in-law, Orson Love and wife Catherine, Oregon Hill, plus many nieces and nephews.
He was predeceased in 1972 by one sister, Jeanne (Brinthaupt) Kocourek.
In 1942 Gordon married Lula Mae Love of Oregon Hill, PA. The couple lived in Elmira, and Gordon worked first at International Harvester, and then for the Pennsylvania Railroad beginning in 1941. After the onset of World War II, he joined the 718th Railway Operating Battalion sponsored by the Pennsylvania Railroad. Basic army training occurred at Indiantown Gap, PA, then on to Camp Claybourne, Louisiana for military railroad training.
During the war he served in the 718th R.O.B. in the capacity of locomotive specialist, general mechanic, winch operator, shop engineer railroad, and brake inspector, earning a T-4 grade. He was stationed in Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe before and after the liberation of these war-torn regions.
After the war, Gordon and Lula again lived in Elmira where he resumed working for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Southport Yard. He was proud of his membership with the Transport Workers Union. Gordon was a Union Grievance Officer, helping his fellow workers with their declined claims, resulting in his attendance at claims conferences with the Labor Relations Officer of the company.
In 1953 the family moved to Pennsylvania where Gordon built a house and lived in Ridgebury Township for the remainder of his life. His war experience and invaluable knowledge from service in the 718th Railroad Operating Battalion was applied to his Pennsylvania Railroad career in the Car Department. He became qualified as a wreck derrick engineer on the wreck train that was stationed at the PRR Southport Yard until 1968. The 1972 Agnes Flood changed the old world order forever. Gordon worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central and Conrail, retiring in 1978 with 37 years.
However his railroad career wasn't over. He was instrumental working (volunteering) with the owners of the Owego and Harford Railroad and the I.D.A. to rehabilitate the line in order to run gas trains. All total, he accumulated 57 years of railroading. A special place always to him was Oregon Hill, PA and Blackwell, PA, where family members still reside.
Special thanks to the Ridgebury Ambulance Association, Arnot Ogden Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital, Guthrie Home Health Care, and especially the Bath VA.
A memorial service will be held later in the year.
Local arrangements are under the direction of the Roberts Funeral Home, Inc.
After the war, Gordon and Lula again lived in Elmira where he resumed working for the Pennsylvania Railroad's Southport Yard. He was proud of his membership with the Transport Workers Union. Gordon was a Union Grievance Officer, helping his fellow workers with their declined claims, resulting in his attendance at claims conferences with the Labor Relations Officer of the company.
In 1953 the family moved to Pennsylvania where Gordon built a house and lived in Ridgebury Township for the remainder of his life. His war experience and invaluable knowledge from service in the 718th Railroad Operating Battalion was applied to his Pennsylvania Railroad career in the Car Department. He became qualified as a wreck derrick engineer on the wreck train that was stationed at the PRR Southport Yard until 1968. The 1972 Agnes Flood changed the old world order forever. Gordon worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, Penn Central and Conrail, retiring in 1978 with 37 years.
However his railroad career wasn't over. He was instrumental working (volunteering) with the owners of the Owego and Harford Railroad and the I.D.A. to rehabilitate the line in order to run gas trains. All total, he accumulated 57 years of railroading. A special place always to him was Oregon Hill, PA and Blackwell, PA, where family members still reside.
Special thanks to the Ridgebury Ambulance Association, Arnot Ogden Hospital, Strong Memorial Hospital, Guthrie Home Health Care, and especially the Bath VA.
A memorial service will be held later in the year.
Local arrangements are under the direction of the Roberts Funeral Home, Inc.
