George Washington Groundhog: One Of The Original WWII Code Talkers (Inventors Of Native Coding) ; Gr
My Grandfather George Washington Groundhog was one of the original “Code Talkers and inventors of Native Coding.” I thank him with my humble gratitude for these priceless gifts of knowledge, language and culture…
TAHLEQUAH, Ok. George Washington Groundhog (Seq. Employee 1950s-60s), 65, of Stilwell died Sunday Feb. 18, 1979 at a Tahlequah nursing home. Services were held Tuesday Feb. 20th in the Reed-Culver Funeral Chapel with Rev. Joe Chuculate officiating. Burial was in the Cedar Tree Cemetery.
Pallbearers were Andy Sellers, John R. Sellers, Dicky Sellers, Tom Pickup, Dan Christie and Tom Bearpaw.
Born Aug. 21, 1913 in Eldon, he retired from Frisco railroad and was employed for several years at Sequoyah High School. He lived in Stilwell for eight years; lived in Cherokee, North Carolina for seven years and the rest of his life was spent in Cherokee County.
He was an Army veteran of World War Two. He served in the Rhineland and central Europe under General George S. Patton. He was decorated with three Bronze Service Stars and received a Purple Heart.
Survivors include one brother, Dennis (Groundhog) Ogan (Seq. Cls’36) of Portland, Ore.; two sisters, Melinda Keys of Stilwell, Mary Groundhog Sellers (Seq. Student) of Welling, one step-daughter, Fayeola Vann of Briggs; and one granddaughter, Lisa Christine Groundhog Christiansen (Seq. student 1981-1984).
