George Wybenga - Orange Hall

Yes, please if someone knows anything share it. A group of us got to him first and started CPR and used the aed on him.  I never knew the man but after being in that situation today I am really hoping for a positive outcome.  If not prayers to his family and friends.

My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family.  Praying for the best.

-Greg 

My daughter, certified in CPR, helped initially as well. As I understand, he was revived in the hospital.

Steve

Steve if that is true you have made my night.  I was thinking and praying for him the whole way home back to Ohio. 

I hope that is the case. Bryan and your daughter Steve should be commended for their actions.

If anyone knows more please let me know since George is a member of the Railroad Museum of Long Island many of us are concerned.

Gentle Forum Members,

I was able to speak with George's wife, Betty this afternoon.

George had a heart attack on the trading room floor of the York Fair Grounds Orange Hall yesterday.  People who found him started CPR and called the ambulance.  They defibrillated him and continued working on him to the hospital.  He is alive from a heartbeat sense of the word but they fear severe brain damage as he was without oxygen to the brain for so long.  They have medically cooled his body and have him on life support at the moment, they will not fully know about brain activity until tomorrow afternoon. 

This is very sad news, for many years George has been a large part of the Railroad Museum of Long Island and the Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter of the NRHS.  George is the artist and designer of seven of our RMLI Lionel Collectible Cars beginning with the Wonder Bread covered hopper #52595 through the G-16 Crew Car #58227.  He is a very good friend!! 

Thank you to all the Good Samaritans, First Responders, EMS and hospital staff that have/are caring for George at York.  God Bless each of you!  Bryan, Steve's daughter . . . . . THANK YOU!  GOD BLESS YOU!

George's son, Eric and daughter-in-law, Shelly are with him at the hospital in York.  Betty will call me with information as soon as George's condition changes and I will report to the group here.  Please keep your thoughts and prayers for George going, it's a tough time for him and his family.

Sadly,

Don Fisher, President

Railroad Museum of Long Island

Thanks for the update Don. Prayers sent up for some positive news.

Hope he will be OK.

This is horrible to here. I hope George makes it 100%. John

Don, or anybody else, hear an update on George?

Hi Joe, fellow Forum members,

I did not hear from Betty yesterday, I'm hoping for an update late this afternoon.

The doctors had cooled George's body and have him on life support.  On Monday, they began to bring George up, out of whatever state they have had him in since Saturday.  Monday afternoon there had been no response from George and Betty said it would not be until late Tuesday or Wednesday before there is anything definitive on his condition.

Thank you for keeping George in your thoughts and prayers,

Don

Thanks for the update, still holding out hope and praying.

Prayers to Gorge and his family

Ginny and Eliot

This is very sad news; I have known George for about ten years. He was a member of another forum I belong to, and we became friends both on line and in person at York. I spoke to George for quite some time on Thursday before the hall opened, and he was very excited about a book he was readying to publish. George was passionate about cabooses, and his trade name is Caboose Art. His book includes cabooses bearing road names from A to Z. He was showing me his copy and explaining what it entailed. 

I was glad to see that he had made a return to York, as he told me a few years ago that he was getting on in age, and the trip from Long Island was very tiring. He seemed like his usual self, so one never knows when the next crisis will happen. My thoughts and prayers go out to George and his family, and I hope the medical staff responsible for his care can satisfactorily manage his condition. I seem to recall George saying he was 83, or going to turn 83 shortly. 

Don

Gentle Forum Members,

Betty Wybenga called me today.  I am saddened to report that George passed away yesterday, October 27, at the hospital in York, PA.  His son, Eric and his daughter-in-law Shelly were at his side when he passed.   As was George’s long standing wish, his body has been turned over to a teaching hospital for science.  A celebration of George’s life will be scheduled for a later date

George was a very active member and Trustee of the Railroad Museum of Long Island, a Director of the Long Island Sunrise Trail Chapter - NRHS, a fourteen year TCA Member and a good personal friend.  I am going to miss our Mexican dinners at El Ricardo’s in Babylon, New York, it was something we both looked forward to every month that LIST meets.

George was a Corporal in the United States Army, he was a clerk in Germany and one of his duties was to muster out those members of the service who were coming to the end of their enlistment.  He would check their paperwork, give them their discharge papers and finally, their separation pay.  One day a young Private appeared before George to be mustered out.  As a good clerk, George examined each piece of the Private’s paperwork.  Finding everything in order he issued the soldier his discharge papers and last pay check.  Upon every detail being completed, George looked the man in the eye and said, ”Have a great life Private Presley!”  Elvis replied, “And to you too Corporal!”

I envision George sitting down with Elvis this evening, having his usual iced coffee and whatever – with “NO ONIONS!”  –  and catching up on old times!

Don

Sorry to hear that bad news. My condolences to his family.

n2qhvRMLI posted:

George was a Corporal in the United States Army, he was a clerk in Germany and one of his duties was to muster out those members of the service who were coming to the end of their enlistment.  He would check their paperwork, give them their discharge papers and finally, their separation pay.  One day a young Private appeared before George to be mustered out.  As a good clerk, George examined each piece of the Private’s paperwork.  Finding everything in order he issued the soldier his discharge papers and last pay check.  Upon every detail being completed, George looked the man in the eye and said, ”Have a great life Private Presley!”  Elvis replied, “And to you too Corporal!”

I don't want to split hairs here, but Elvis was a Sergeant when he got out... I think he was mustered out of Fort Dix. I used to serve in the same Brigade Elvis had served in during the 50s (long after he'd passed on), so we were always hearing stories about the man.

RIP George...

Thanks for letting us know Don. Rest in peace George.

P51, 

Thank you, I stand corrected.  George served at Fort Dix as well as in Germany, I may have the exact location and ranks mixed up . . . . . . . . . . . but the facts of the story remain, George mustered Elvis out of the Army :-)   And tonight they are hoisting cold ones together!!

Don

When I told my wife about this, she said, "well, the last memory he had was doing something he loved". 

It sounds like he had a good life. God Bless! John

My condolences to his friends and family.   I agree with Joe's wife - he was doing something he loved when he was called.  

-Greg

Don,

Although the news is terribly said, thank you for letting us know.  The story about George, Elvis, and the army was very touching.

R.I.P. George

Stu

Fine business Stu,  thank you all Forum members for your kind words.

It is a great loss to our Museum and our hobby.  George was such a gentle soul and he really loved his work and all the people that work brought him in contact with.  He looked forward to York and Springfield meets as it allowed him to see friends and catch up all that was new.  He had such a passion for the rail preservation field, especially cabooses, and he was ACTIVE in so many phases of our work.  He was no arm chair historian, he got out there and put his hands on the real thing!  Here he is painting on a REAL caboose and locomotive cab, staffing our table at a job/internship fair at a local college and cutting the cake at the opening of a Museum art show featuring his Caboose Art!  We miss him!

Don

In memory of George I have made a donation to the Railroad Museum of Long Island. It's easy to do online, card or Paypal.

Thank you Joe,

We will notify George's family of all donations made in his name to the Museum.  It is appreciated.

Don

Sincere condolences to George's family, friends, and fellow club members from the entire staff of O Gauge Railroading magazine.