George William Gebhardt II

A Celebration of Life will be held for George Gebhardt II, 97, of North Bend, on Saturday, April 13, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Shoreline Community Church, 2151 Clark Street in North Bend with Pastor Michael Barnard presiding.

George William Gebhardt was born on January 13, 1927 in Evanston, Illinois to George William Gebhardt Sr. and Frieda Link Gebhardt. He attended elementary and high schools in Chicago. Completing high school in three and a half years, he enlisted in the Army Reserves which sent him to the University of Michigan to study Engineering. After the program phased down, he completed Basic Infantry Training at Camp Maxey, TX and Advanced Infantry training at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Subsequently he shipped out of Seattle bound for mop up operations on Saipan. Orders were amended en route and the boat load of 18 year olds disembarked in Hawaii. In service, he became a butcher cutting front quarter beef and frozen chicken. He was able to do a one day on, one day off schedule. Always an innovative, energetic person, George was able to work at a number of off-duty jobs, successively in an ice house, a chicken ranch, and then for the USO. After 19 months in Hawaii, he was discharged and returned to Chicago where he attended Illinois Institute of Technology earning a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering, Management Minor.

Upon graduating from college in 1951, George married Virginia Lee Thompson. The couple had four sons before divorcing in 1970. In 1974 he married Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Sexton. After graduation, he worked one year for Fairbanks, Morse and Company as an Industrial Pump and Motor Sales Engineer. After that, his 32 year career with the Department of Defense began, initially as a Production Specialist, on 20mm and 30mm ammunition and atomic weapon components with Army Ordnance Ammunition Command in Joliet, Illinois. Then he worked with Army Ballistic Missile Agency in Huntsville, Alabama as a Project Engineer on the Jupiter Missile System. Next he worked for the US Air Force in Los Angeles, California as a Project Engineer on the Minuteman Missile System. His final Government position was with the Defense Logistics Agency as Chief of Quality Assurance in Santa Ana, California. In this latter position, which he held for 3 years, he supervised a staff of 222 engineers, technicians and clerical personnel in the inspection, test and acceptance of all government material except food and medical supplies in the greater Los Angeles Area. In all of his many occupations, George exhibited a unique talent of seeing problems relating to procedures and production, then developing practical solutions to the problems. This attribute enabled him to progress rapidly in his chosen field.

Shortly after his retirement in 1984, George and his wife Libby moved to the Bay Area, first living up the Millicoma River for 16 years and then moving to North Bend. Always an active person, George started a property management business, purchasing and upgrading, renting and then selling a number of single family homes. George also served as a volunteer with a number of local organizations including AARP, Tax Aid ( 16 years ), AARP Driver Safety Program ( 25 years ), Assistant State Coordinator and Instructor, Coos Bay Visitor Center ( 5 years ), and Bay Area Hospital. He also served as a Better Business Bureau Volunteer Arbitrator and Consumer Advocate, helping people resolve problems with various businesses. Included in his BBB role, he wrote a monthly consumer Column for Prime Time, a local weekly newspaper, for 11 years. George’s hobbies included traveling, working crossword puzzles, gardening, and investing.

George accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior at the age of 12 and desired to serve Him and others with his God given talents and abilities. Some of the organizations which he served during his adult years were Wycliffe Bible Translators and Far East Broadcasting Co. performing studies to reduce operating costs. He also served Prison Fellowship by introducing Bible studies in half-way houses in inner city Los Angeles. Some out of the country volunteering included a project in Nicaragua helping to lay the foundation for a church, and a 3-month assignment with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Brazil as Mr. Fix-It, Libby went too as an accountant. Several trips were also made to Mexico, one to help build a church/seminary and several to help at an orphanage. After attending several churches, George and Libby found their church home with Shoreline Community Church.

George is survived by his loving wife, Libby, and his 4 sons: Bill Gebhardt of Bend, Oregon, Jerry Gebhardt of Anaheim, California, Michael Gebhardt of Saint Augustine, Florida, and John Gebhardt of Thousand Oaks, California; his grandchildren Christopher, Catherine, Ryan, Gabriella, Garrett, and Graham Gebhardt; and his brothers Richard and Ronald Gebhardt of Illinois.

Friends and family are encouraged to sign the online guestbook at www.coosbayareafunerals.com and www.theworldlink.com. The family suggests memorial contributions to Shoreline Community Church or to the Salvation Army. Arrangements are under the care of North Bend Chapel, 541-756-0440.

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