December 15, 1917 - December 04, 2009
George Kenneth Lamphier Obituary
(Age 91)
Passed away in his home December 4, 2009. George was known by all his family, neighbors and friends for his soft-spoken saltiness and ability to give a quick smile after a sharp quip. He was born December 15, 1917 to George Henry Lamphier and Lola A. Koon near Tyler, WA. His parents were some of the early pioneers to Spokane County, arriving in the area in 1902 from Oklahoma. George attended Tyler grade school and was graduated from Cheney High School in 1936 where he lettered in football, baseball and track. He was president of his senior class and later played baseball for Sprague, WA which he considered his hometown. His love of sports continued throughout his life. Weekends found him cheering for his favorite baseball, basketball and football teams. An avid golfer, he boasted two holes-in-one and broke 80 once. Other hobbies included his lawn, his rose and vegetable gardens and feeding his quail. George retired to Spokane in 1984 after an illustrious 48 year career with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad. He held a variety of positions for the railroad over the years. First, with the Northern Pacific Railroad in Sprague, as a section gang laborer, eventually working his way up the system, and ultimately becoming Director of Track Maintenance Programs for the Burlington Northern railroad home office in St. Paul, MN. George was known as the "Super Gandy Dancer" for his unsurpassed knowledge of the maintenance and laying of over 25,000 miles of track. George is survived by his wife, Juanita Frances Luke of Thompson Falls, MT; his daughter, Georglyn K. Lamphier of Grants Pass, OR; a daughter-in-law, Peggy Lamphier of Spokane; three grandchildren, Laurie Olson of Spokane, J. Scott Lamphier of Owatonna, MN, Lisa Benneweis (Greg) of Spokane; six great-grandchildren, Ryan Olson, Ross Olson, Blaine Lamphier, Matthew Lamphier, Rachel Benneweis, Carter Benneweis, and many nieces and nephews. His son, Wesley I. Lamphier of Spokane, preceded him in death July 2003 as well as his three brothers Walter V., Louis C., Clarence, and a sister, Myrtle. Services to honor George K. Lamphier will be held at Heritage Funeral Home, 508 N. Government Way in Spokane on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at 2 PM. All who have been touched by George's zest for living are invited to come celebrate his life. In lieu of flowers, charitable donations in George's name may be sent to the Inland Empire Railway Historical Society, P.O. Box 3950, Spokane, WA 99220
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