Spring 2003
Volume 110 - No. 1

Brotherhood Obituaries

As of February 28, 2003   28 - F. W. Lochner 32 - C. S. Caldwell 94 - J. M. Moore 147 - R. R. Bailey 156 - H. N. Gray Jr. 157 - A. Barber 176 - A. G. Fowler 182 - H. S. Thomas 182 - O. V. Wilson 187 - J. R. Haggard 238 - R. L. Arnold 294 - R. F. Snider 303 - E. J. Guard 303 - F. Manning 307 - T. L. Childers 319 - L. D. Card 332 - R. D. Preusz 366 - R. J. Stutes Jr. 392 - R. W. Budeski 435 - J. T. Hinson 469 - A. E. Jowsey 483 - M. D. Lloyd 484 - E. A. Hitchens 511 - J. D. Rinehart 574 - M. A. Buckstead 662 - B. A. Jensen 728 - W. R. McNabb 858 - J. T. Stone 886 - R. C. Hellinger

As of March 31, 2003   5 - L. D. Salisbury 60 - J. R. Bland 158 - R. V. Lamb 189 - R. J. Dall 191 - H. L. Gelinas 232 - W. J. Harper 237 - R. M. Willard 239 - R. H. Thomas 278 - T. Kail 294 - C. O. Plessinger 308 - F. J. Sullivan 373 - P. D. Smith 405 - R. J. Anderson 421 - H. E. Parker Jr. 442 - J. H. Adams 473 - E. Wilhite 535 - J. D. Graham 537 - G. O. Falls 622 - A. H. Milks 680 - G. L. Langlois 708 - C. M. Payne 730 - S. L. Brubaker 740 - C. R. Rumage 851 - C. L. Halscheid 867 - M. P. Durocher 914 - J. H. Frazier 934 - G. E. Arnold

This information is based upon reports filed by the secretary-treasurers of the various BLE Divisions.

Former GST Rinehart dies

Former BLE General Secretary-Treasurer John D. Rinehart passed away on February 27 after a prolonged illness.

Brother Rinehart, 75, served the BLE as General Secretary-Treasurer for 13 years (1976-1989) and as a Special Representative for 10 years (1966-1976).

"I worked with Brother Rinehart and he conducted himself as a gentleman who always put the affairs of the Brotherhood first," said International President Don Hahs. "On behalf of the 59,000 men and women of the BLE, I extend deepest sympathies to his family."

He won election to the office of Alternate General Secretary-Treasurer at the Second Quinquennial International Convention in 1976. He succeeded G.P. Sheahan as GST upon Sheahan's death later that year.

He won reelection to the GST office in 1981 and 1986 before retiring on May 1, 1989.

Born on June 21, 1927 in Columbus, Ohio, Brother Rinehart spent two years in the U.S. Army Air Force in the U.S. and Europe during World War II. His first railroad job was as a freight handler for the Pennsylvania Railroad in Columbus in 1942.

He hired out as a fireman on Dec. 1, 1947 for the Norfolk & Western in Columbus, earning his promotion to locomotive engineer for the N&W in February of 1953.

On July 3, 1949, Brother Rinehart joined BLE Division 72 in Columbus, serving as local chairman and legislative representative for several years. He also served as a Vice Chairman of the Ohio State Legislative Board from 1967-1976. He transferred to BLE Division 511 (Portsmouth, Ohio) on December 1, 1989.

His grandfather, Dell D. Rinehart, was a Scioto Valley and N&W conductor. His father, Charles D. Rinehart, was also a N&W conductor and local officer of the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.

Brother Rinehart and his wife, Kathryn Wildermuth, were married on Sept. 18, 1954. They had two daughters, one son, and several grandchildren.

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