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George William Launchbaugh

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George William Launchbaugh

Birth	:	21 Mar 1916 Sheridan County, Kansas, USA
Death	:	5 Oct 2013 Hays, Ellis County, Kansas, USA
Burial	:	Dresden Cemetery, Dresden, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate	:	39.6293907, -100.4231033
Description	:	George William Launchbaugh passed away Saturday, October 5, 2013, at Hays Regional Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 97. He was born the third child of Cyrus Tallis and Ella Alzina (Dedrick) Launchbaugh on March 21, 1916 in the family home in the McGraw neighborhood of Union Township, Sheridan County, Kansas. George spent his childhood learning to work on the family farm and attending most of his grade school years at the nearby McGraw rural schoolhouse. He graduated from Dresden High School with the Class of 1934. Soon thereafter George left home to earn a living driving truck, hauling... Read More	George William Launchbaugh passed away Saturday, October 5, 2013, at Hays Regional Medical Center in Hays, Kansas at the age of 97. He was born the third child of Cyrus Tallis and Ella Alzina (Dedrick) Launchbaugh on March 21, 1916 in the family home in the McGraw neighborhood of Union Township, Sheridan County, Kansas. George spent his childhood learning to work on the family farm and attending most of his grade school years at the nearby McGraw rural schoolhouse. He graduated from Dresden High School with the Class of 1934. Soon thereafter George left home to earn a living driving truck, hauling grain and produce from Greeley, Colorado to the markets at Nebraska, Iowa and Texas. The trucker instinct never left him and in all his travels thereafter he always knew the highway number and where the next corner was located. When World War II broke out, George was employed in Portland, Oregon as a welder in the shipyards. Because those skills were highly valued, he remained in that position until 1942 when he joined the Navy as a ship fitter. He enlisted 11 Nov 1942 at Denver, Colorado and served aboard the U.S.S. Solace (AH-5) Hospital Ship. Stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, he repaired damaged submarines until he was injured in a workplace accident. After a long convalescence, he was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1944. He returned to farming, when his health allowed, and also worked as a welder with Hank Kasper in the oilfields. On December 23, 1944, George William Launchbaugh and Carolyn Marie Leist were united in marriage at the United Methodist parsonage in Hoxie, Kansas. They resided on the Launchbaugh family farm in Union Township their entire married life. To this marriage two children were born, a son George Steven, and a daughter Carol Lee. George and Carolyn worked together as partners in their farming operation until their retirement in the late 1970s when their son Steven took over. Retirement years were spent in Texas fishing and developing close friendships with other winter snowbirds. George served as a volunteer rural firefighter for 40 years. He was a lifetime member of the McGraw United Methodist Church and the Disabled American Veterans, and a member of Jennings American Legion Post #351. He bowled on local leagues for many years, and attended many sporting and band events during the years his children were in the Hoxie school system. He never met anyone who was a stranger for long, and during his long life he had many friends and made many acquaintances. He was preceded in death by his parents, Tallis and Ella; wife, Carolyn; brother, Vernon T. Launchbaugh; and sister, Ura Mae Long. Survivors include son, Steven Launchbaugh and wife, Kathy of McGraw; daughter, Carol Metro and husband, Mike of Salina; granddaughter, Michelle Kinnick and husband, Rob of Platte City, Missouri; four grandsons, Curtis and Nick Metro of Salina, G.G. Launchbaugh of Hoxie, and Karl Launchbaugh of Glenvil, Nebraska; 11 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great-grandchildren; nieces, a nephew, and a host of friends. Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at McGraw United Methodist Church; burial in Dresden Cemetery, with military rites by Jennings American Legion Post No. 351. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Mickey-Leopold Funeral Home, Hoxie. Memorials are suggested to McGraw United Methodist Church or Sheridan County Rural Fire Department in care of the funeral home. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.mickeyleopoldfuneral.com. ~~~~~~~~ George Launchbaugh, a 97-year-old volunteer firefighter for Sheridan County (KS), has passed away. He is believed to have been the nation's oldest active volunteer fireman. He died Saturday at Hays Medical Center as a result of complications from pneumonia, according to Steve Hirsch, training officer for the Sheridan County Fire Department and second vice chairman of National Volunteer Fire Council. While there's no official method of keeping track of the oldest active firefighter, Hirsch said he frequently attended meetings of the national group when the issue of the oldest active firefighter came up. When the question turned his way, Hirsch quietly would say 97. No one even could come close. Launchbaugh was an active member of the McGraw Station, located northeast of Hoxie. That's also where his funeral service was conducted, at the still-active McGraw United Methodist Church. It was a standing-room-only crowd at the church, Hirsch said, testament to Launchbaugh's standing in the community and the county's fire department. Launchbaugh's son, Steve, now is station chief at the McGraw Station. While Hirsch said the McGraw station, housing a fire truck designed to fight brush fires, didn't respond to many calls, he still marveled 97-year-old Launchbaugh continued to respond, as well. Hirsch said Launchbaugh remained "spry." "Pretty incredible guy," he said. "If you ever went away from him and didn't feel like he was your long-lost friend, you weren't listening."

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is George William Launchbaugh's memorial?
George William Launchbaugh's memorial is located at: Dresden Cemetery, Dresden, Decatur County, USA.
When did George William Launchbaugh death?
George William Launchbaugh death on 5 Oct 2013 in Hays, Ellis County, Kansas, USA
Where are the coordinates of the George William Launchbaugh's memorial?
Latitude: 39.6293907
Longitude: -100.4231033

Family Members:

Parent

Cyrus Tallis Launchbaugh

(1875 - 1955)

Ella Alzina Dedrick Launchbaugh

(1880 - 1963)

Spouse

Carolyn Marie Leist Launchbaugh

(1916 - 2009)

Siblings

Ura Mae Launchbaugh Long

(1903 - 1979)

Vernon Tallis Launchbaugh

(1911 - 1927)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Dresden Cemetery
Dresden, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6293907, -100.4231033

2. Jackson Cemetery
Dresden, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6727982, -100.4036026

3. Calvary Cemetery
Leoville, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5803200, -100.4613100

4. Shibboleth Cemetery
Dresden, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6338997, -100.5207977

5. Jennings Cemetery
Jennings, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6824989, -100.3050003

6. Adell Cemetery
Selden, Sheridan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5384700, -100.3387300

7. Selden Cemetery
Selden, Sheridan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5381012, -100.5541992

8. Mennonite Cemetery
Dresden, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6725000, -100.5909900

9. Big Timber Cemetery
Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7546997, -100.3394012

10. Allison Cemetery
Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5741997, -100.2480011

11. Lund Church Cemetery
Dresden, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6697617, -100.6090775

12. Kanona Cemetery
Kanona, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8130989, -100.3949966

13. Immanuel Lutheran Cemetery
Hoxie, Sheridan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4339600, -100.4791400

14. Oberlin Cemetery
Oberlin, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8266296, -100.5155869

15. Lucerne Cemetery
Lucerne, Sheridan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4952087, -100.2127304

16. Clayton Cemetery
Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7546997, -100.1860962

17. Gettis Cemetery
Clayton, Norton County, USA
Coordinate: 39.6810989, -100.1327972

18. Hawkeye Cemetery
Cook Township, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5990000, -100.7217400

19. Saint Joseph Cemetery
New Almelo, Norton County, USA
Coordinate: 39.5985985, -100.1159973

20. Bassettville Cemetery
Oberlin, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.7064018, -100.7213974

21. Bow Creek Cemetery
Tasco, Sheridan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.4227982, -100.2564011

22. Vallonia Cemetery
Oberlin, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8792000, -100.4039001

23. Hoxie Cemetery
Hoxie, Sheridan County, USA
Coordinate: 39.3736000, -100.4421997

24. Penn Family Cemetery
Oberlin, Decatur County, USA
Coordinate: 39.8679700, -100.5892500