George Richard Gillespie Ii

George Richard Gillespie II, 72, of Elgin and formerly of Placerville, Calif., died Sept. 21 at his home with family by his side.

Family and friends are invited to a small get-together and celebration of life at 3 p.m. Sunday at his home. A Masonic memorial service for George will be held in Placerville at a later date.

George was born March 21, 1937, to George Sr. and Laura (Amie) Gillespie on his grandparents' farm in McDonald, Pa. He lived there until 1948, at which time he moved to California with his family.

He met his wife, Patricia Evans, at Franklin High School in Stockton, Calif., while in biology class. They married Oct. 11, 1953, in Minden, Nev. Then they moved to Hawthorne, Calif., where George started work at Northrup Aircraft at the age of 16 and became a journeyman machinist at the age of 18.

In 1959, he moved his family to Placerville, Calif., where he went to work at Aerojet Gen. Corp. in Nimbus, Calif. In 1960, he worked as a member of the Polaris team, on a historic project for the Navy - the first submerged launching of a ballistic missile from a submarine, the USS George Washington. He also machined parts for the Apollo spacecraft, Delta and Titan missile projects.

He opened his own machine shop in 1970 where he machined parts for the space shuttle and offshore oil drilling rigs. George retired in 1997 and moved to Elgin to hunt and fish.

Those who knew George say he was an honest, hardworking and proud man who took great pride in his family, supporting them in all their endeavors be it college rodeos, sports or business ventures. He touched many lives. Those who remember him say he was well loved and liked by all and could be quite a jokester when he wanted.

George was an avid hunter, horseman and fisherman. He spent many years hunting and packing horses in Utah. He fished near Donner Summit in California with his son, grandson and friends. He belonged to the El Dorado Gymkhana Association and participated in the re-enactment of the Pony Express ride from Sacramento, Calif., to Lake Tahoe from 1970 to 1981. He also enjoyed participating in the re-enactment of the old West gunfights during the Wagon Train Days in Placerville every year.

He was a member and past master of the Hiram No. 46 Masonic Lodge in El Dorado, Calif. George was also a member of the El Dorado Chapter No. 499 Order of Eastern Star where George and his wife, Patricia, were Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron in 1984.

George is survived by his wife of 56 years, Patricia Gillespie of Elgin; children and their spouses, George R. "Rick" III and Monique Gillespie of Kelsey, Calif., and Julia and Leon Huot of Elgin; sisters, Donna Lapczenski and Paula Terle; three grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association.

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