News
Huburt Vallord Meek, 87, of Grand Junction died Aug. 20 in Grand Junction.
Huburt was born Nov. 11, 1920, to Vallord and Bertha (Berry) in Castleford, Idaho. He graduated from Minturn High School. On Sept. 19, 1941, he married Virginia Ellithorpe in Eagle. After high school, he began working for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad as section hand. Over the years he worked his way up in the railroad, retiring in 1985 as the general roadmaster of the railroad. He was in charge of track, bridges, signals and building. The family moved all around Colorado and Utah following his job on the railroad. Places they lived included Alamosa, the DeBeque Canyon, Salt Lake City, Pueblo, Steamboat Springs and Hot Sulphur Springs.
While in the Durango/Silverton/Chama area he worked on three movies: “Night Passage,” “The Good Guys and The Bad Guys” with Robert Mitchum and “Around the World in 80 Days” with Mike Todd. He made the cover of Life magazine when he was snowed in on Cumbres Pass with 60 of his men. He lived in Grand Junction since 1972. In 1983 a huge mudslide near Thistle, Utah, covered the tracks in 250 feet of mud, closing down the railroad’s main line. Huburt was in charge of building more than 6 miles of new track and twin bore tunnels to restore the railroad. The job was completed in only 81 days and was acclaimed the “engineering feat of the century” by the American Railway Engineering Association.
Huburt was a member of the B.P.O.E., the Roadmaster’s Association, El Jebel Shriners and the Freemasons. Mr. Meek was very dedicated to any organization to which he belonged. He spent countless hours volunteering time at the Shriner’s Circus and was Shriner of the Year in 1990. He enjoyed golfing, landing five holes-in-one at Bookcliff Country Club; gardening; cutting out newspaper articles to send to the kids and grandkids; and spending time with his family. He loved watching the Denver Broncos and enjoyed a good Scotch.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Grand Junction; sons Kelly (Karen) of Steamboat Springs and Mike (Sharon) of Rio Rancho, N.M.; daughters Sandy Intfen of Fort Collins and Susan (Ken) Sodowsky of Cedaredge; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; younger brother Herman, who died in the English Channel in World War II; and son-in-law George W. Intfen.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 3 to 6 p.m.; funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary with burial to follow at Municipal Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Bookcliff Country Club.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or Hospice and Palliative Care, 2754 Compass Drive, Suite 377, Grand Junction, CO 81506.
Huburt was born Nov. 11, 1920, to Vallord and Bertha (Berry) in Castleford, Idaho. He graduated from Minturn High School. On Sept. 19, 1941, he married Virginia Ellithorpe in Eagle. After high school, he began working for the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad as section hand. Over the years he worked his way up in the railroad, retiring in 1985 as the general roadmaster of the railroad. He was in charge of track, bridges, signals and building. The family moved all around Colorado and Utah following his job on the railroad. Places they lived included Alamosa, the DeBeque Canyon, Salt Lake City, Pueblo, Steamboat Springs and Hot Sulphur Springs.
While in the Durango/Silverton/Chama area he worked on three movies: “Night Passage,” “The Good Guys and The Bad Guys” with Robert Mitchum and “Around the World in 80 Days” with Mike Todd. He made the cover of Life magazine when he was snowed in on Cumbres Pass with 60 of his men. He lived in Grand Junction since 1972. In 1983 a huge mudslide near Thistle, Utah, covered the tracks in 250 feet of mud, closing down the railroad’s main line. Huburt was in charge of building more than 6 miles of new track and twin bore tunnels to restore the railroad. The job was completed in only 81 days and was acclaimed the “engineering feat of the century” by the American Railway Engineering Association.
Huburt was a member of the B.P.O.E., the Roadmaster’s Association, El Jebel Shriners and the Freemasons. Mr. Meek was very dedicated to any organization to which he belonged. He spent countless hours volunteering time at the Shriner’s Circus and was Shriner of the Year in 1990. He enjoyed golfing, landing five holes-in-one at Bookcliff Country Club; gardening; cutting out newspaper articles to send to the kids and grandkids; and spending time with his family. He loved watching the Denver Broncos and enjoyed a good Scotch.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia of Grand Junction; sons Kelly (Karen) of Steamboat Springs and Mike (Sharon) of Rio Rancho, N.M.; daughters Sandy Intfen of Fort Collins and Susan (Ken) Sodowsky of Cedaredge; 14 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; younger brother Herman, who died in the English Channel in World War II; and son-in-law George W. Intfen.
Visitation will be Tuesday, Aug. 26, from 3 to 6 p.m.; funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 27, at Callahan-Edfast Mortuary with burial to follow at Municipal Cemetery. A reception will follow at the Bookcliff Country Club.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriner’s Hospital, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, FL 33607 or Hospice and Palliative Care, 2754 Compass Drive, Suite 377, Grand Junction, CO 81506.
