La Grande, Oregon
George Chris Kalmbach
Longtime La Grande service station owner George Chris Kalmbach, 83, of La Grande died Dec. 15 at his home.
Viewing will be held from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at Daniels Chapel of the Valley. A graveside service will be held at the Island City Cemetery at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday and a memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in La Grande.
Mr. Kalmbach was at Palmer Junction July 5, 1923, the son of Jesse and Edith (Miles) Kalmbach in Palmer Junction. After high school he joined the U.S. Navy Seabees. After his honorable discharge he returned to Union County.
He owned and operated a service station at Second and Adams for 53 years, first as a Shell station and later as George’s Texaco.
He was an active member of the First Baptist Church and was one of the members of the committee that founded Camp Elkanah. He was also a member of the VFW and NRA.
His family was his biggest hobby. He enjoyed fishing, hunting and reloading shells.
Survivors include his wife, Hulda, of La Grande; children, George “Wesley” Kalmbach of La Grande, Rodney Kalmbach of Sutherlin and Donna Kalmbach Phillips of Salem; seven grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; brothers, Robert Kalmbach of Caldwell, Idaho, and John Kalmbach of Banks; sister, Rosalie Gobel of Packwood, Wash.; and other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by brothers, Nick, Jim and Richard.
Those who wish may make contributions in memory of Mr. Kalmbach to the Camp Elkanah Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 150, La Grande 97850.
The Observer – Obituaries for the week ending Dec. 23, 2006 Published: December 23, 2006
