George G. Paxton Sr.

With a strong emphasis on family, George G. Paxton Sr. pursued an active life marked by success as a farmer, railroad engineer and community servant.  Mr. Paxton, 84, of Rainsburg, Bedford County, and formerly of Chartiers Township, Washington County, passed away Saturday at UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital after a long battle with cancer.  At the time of his death, he was serving a fourth term as mayor of Rainsburg. In November, he was elected by write-in votes, despite his announced decision not to seek another term. The son of James Clarence and Hazel Hamilton Paxton was born Aug. 29,
1924, and grew up on the Shilling Hill Farm, the still active dairy farm in Chartiers that has been in the family for three generations. He was salutatorian of the Hickory High School Class of 1942, then attended Pennsylvania State University, where he studied agricultural economics.
On November 8, 1944, in Bridgeville, PA he married Bonnie Jean McCracken, who survives.  On the farm, Mr. Paxton developed a strong line of Holstein cattle and Merino sheep among other agricultural accomplishments that soon made him a notable figure in local, regional and state agricultural circles.  He served as president of the Washington County Holstein Club and as a member of the Washington County Fair Board. He also took on the additional role for eight years as an dairy agent for the Washington County Agriculture Extension office. He was a trustee of the First United Presbyterian Church in Houston, Pa.,
and served on the Oak Spring Cemetery Board.  While still running an active farm, Mr. Paxton pursued another line of interest to earn additional money for his growing family. In 1955, he landed a job as a fireman with the Pennsylvania Railroad Co and eventually became an engineer with the company that would become the Penn-Central Railroad Co. and eventually Conrail. Later in his career, he became an engineer for the Amtrak passenger train known as the Broadway Limited. Mr. Paxton, a member of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, was one from whom others sought advice due to his calm demeanor and thorough understanding of his job. James Tush Jr., a fellow railroad engineer from Somerset Township, Washington County, described him as having vast experience coupled with the willingness to help others and answer questions, even when exhausted after a long run. "He could handle any train he was given," Mr. Tush said. "He took pride in his work and loved the railroad." Always a vocal advocate of strong, productive family farms and wise agricultural practices, Mr. Paxton continued raising livestock, keeping an active hand in the agricultural community, growing hay among other crops and working long hours on the farm and railroad. He and his family participated annually at the Washington County Fair, where their blue-ribbon Holsteins would qualify for regional fairs and the State Farm Show. Eventually with seven children on the 138-acre Shilling Hill farm, he cut back on activities. His considerable railroad skills led to his appointment as a rules instructor then as an instructor at the Locomotive
Engineers School at the Conway rail yard in Beaver County. In 1980, he and his wife Bonnie moved to Rainsburg, and he retired from Conrail in 1989. Mr. Paxton became founding chairman of the Dr. Bert and Lucille Wiley Memorial Scholarship Foundation at UPMC Bedford Memorial Hospital to educate doctors and medical professionals to serve the rural county. Mr. Paxton was first elected as mayor of Rainsburg in 1996, while
continuing to garden, recondition homes and help his sons work their respective farms.
Wayne Koontz, Rainsburg Borough secretary/treasurer, said the community begged Mr. Paxton last year to continue as mayor after he decided not to run for re-election. "He was certainly trusted, and everybody looked up to him," Mr. Koontz said. "When he spoke, you knew he had everyone's interest at heart." He was preceded in death by one sister, Bettie Cowden. Mr. Paxton is survived by five sons, George G. Paxton Jr., married to
Brenda Johnson of Cincinnati, Ohio, John M. Paxton of Clearville, Bedford County, James C. Paxton married to Lissa George of Meyersdale, Somerset County, Timothy T. of Bedford, and William R. Paxton married to Susan Warne of Chartiers; two daughters, Aliceann, wife of Douglas Christy of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Suellen, wife of David Templeton of McDonald, Washington County; one sister, Sarah E., the widow of Lewis Kenamond of Mifflinburg, Union County; and 14 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.Funeral and burial services will be private.

The family will hold a memorial service, open to the public, at the Woods
Church in Friends Cove, Bedford County, at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions be made to Washington County 4-H Scholarship Fund.  Arrangements by Timothy A. Berkebile Funeral Home in Bedford.  Our online guest book is available at www.berkebilefuneralhome.com