Gordon Earl Brinthaupt
April 30, 1918 ~ January 4, 2018 (age 99) 99 Years OldShare using:
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.