George Wilber McBride, 101, of Sweet Home died March 27, 2010. He was born Aug. 3, 1908 in Sterling, Colo. to William Morris and Hilda (Elsass) McBride.
In 1928, he and his younger brother Gene rode boxcars to California, where Mr. McBride got into construction work operating heavy equipment in the construction of dams and roads in California and Oregon. He worked on the Folsom, Boulder, Shasta and Culver dams. He also helped build Interstate 5 in Oregon.
He settled in Marysville, Calif., retiring at age 65. He moved to Sweet Home in 2001 to live with his daughter.
Mr. McBride was very proud of his association with the Operating Engineers Local #3 up until his death. He joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around 1962 and remained a member after his move to Sweet Home.
He owned many original-model cars, buying his first car at age 16, and loved to tinker with them. Mr. McBride loved to travel throughout the country, having been coast to coast and border to border, leaving lasting friends wherever he traveled. He loved to make wooden whirlygigs and other objects which he gave to all of his friends.
Most of all, he was a great storyteller, filling each tale with great laughter and love.
Mr. McBride is survived by his daughter Midge and husband Dick Knowles of Sweet Home; brother Eugene McBride of Missoula, Mont.; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; step-daughter Joanne and husband Terry Rasmussen of Manteca, Calif.; grandchildren; a number of step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren; and numerous step-great-great-grandchildren throughout the country; and his cat, “Cat.”
He was preceded in death by his wife Marian Ransom McBride in 1999; son Jess in 1941; father William in 1969; mother Hilda in 1960; sister Agnes McBride Stewart in 1986; and brothers Robert in 1984, Samuel in 1974, and Jesse in 1990.
A funeral service is planned for 11 a.m. Monday, April 5, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Sweet Home, 1155 22nd Ave. Burial is planned in Marysville, next to his wife Marian. Sweet Home Funeral Chapel is handling the arrangements.