Gordon Earl Brinthaupt, Jr.

April 30, 1918 - January 4, 2018

 

Gordon 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; a grandson Russell Brinthaupt

also of Nassau; a daughter, Suzanne (Brinthaupt) Niver and her husband

Frank of Gillett, PA; a brother-in-law, Orson Love and wife Catherine

of 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.

279 Main Street, Wellsburg, New York 14894.

One of the Greatest Generation.

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