SMVRHM - Phil Goble, September 22, 2007

Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum

Phil Goble
September 22, 2007

Phil Goble, co-founder of the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum (SMVRHM) passed away while driving to Choo Chew Saturday today with a carload of supplies for the BBQ.

Memorial Service:
Wednesday, 11:00am, September 26, 2007
Santa Maria Elks, 1309 N. Bradley Rd

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in Phil's name to the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum, P.O. Box 264, Santa Maria, CA 93456.

Above, on April 22, 2006, Phil preps the BBQ pit at the Bitter Creek Western Railroad for the April 29, 2006 Choo Chew Saturday.

Phil (left) rolls some latex elastomeric for the "mulehide" canvas on top of the caboose along with Kevin and Ed on March 8, 2003.

Phil protects the yellow while Dr. Marcus sprays.

Phil (R) welcomes Wally Peters to the Museum along with Dan Alves and Ann Openshaw.

Phil steps off SMVRR Caboose No. 180 on the occasion of its move to the downtown depot, September 2, 2004.

Phil (and Dan) discuss a museum exhibit with the Hearns on September 10, 2005.

Words cannot express how much I love and MISS my great uncle Phil so much. My uncle was a man so unforgettable with his kindness, love, and honesty. I think I'm going to miss his laugh the most... such a genuine, happy laugh. I miss you, Uncle Phil... Elizabeth Brown

Words just don't seem to be what I want to put on this paper. I just can't seem to find them. They would be so inadequate when talking about love. I won't try. I will just say what is so difficult to do right now, GOOD BYE LITTLE BROTHER, I LOVE YOU.

Esther Mills, Whidbey Island, WA

So long, good friend! We'll keep the rails shiny for you. Jamie

From the Santa Maria Times:

Philip Wesley Goble
1939 - 2007

The family of Philip Wesley Goble, February 4, 1939 - September 22, 2007 will celebrate his life on Wednesday, September 26 at 11:00 am at the Santa Maria Elks.

Loving father, grandfather, husband, brother and friend, Phil passed away suddenly on the morning of September 22. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Pam; his son Gregory Goble of Santa Maria; his daughter Jennifer Gomez of Oxnard; his son Dan Tidball of Cincinnati; his grandchildren Hana Goble, Wesley, Travis and Hunter Tidball; siblings Herbert Goble of Arroyo Grande and Ester Mills of Washington.

Phil is remembered by all who knew him as a man who loved life, laughed often and heartily, and gave enthusiastically to all with whom he came in contact. His many friends and family will truly miss him.

He loved his country and served in his professional life for 49 years at Vandenberg Air Force Base. He was an active member for 34 years in the Elks club and was co-founder of the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made in his name to the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum, P.O. Box 264, Santa Maria, CA 93456.

Published in the Santa Maria Times on 9/25/2007.

Phil (at right leaning on the rail) enjoys the caboose move along with fellow SMVRHMers.

Known as "CaBoss", Phil led the charge on the restoration of Caboose No. 180. Phil was presented a plaque and a model of Caboose No. 180 for his leadership and energy poured into the multi-year effort to restore the caboose, January 6, 2005.

Phil served on the SMVRHM Board of Directors since its inception in 1999, and has been its Treasurer all along as well.

If you have a memory of Phil or a thought you'd like to share, please email it to the Webman for posting here.

I spent many enjoyable Saturday mornings with Phil on the caboose restoration. He was a leader and dedicated worker. More admirable though, was his character. Friendly, generous and trustworthy. A true friend. Kevin

Phil was a such a kind friend who always had a smile. I will miss his enthusiasm and optimism. It was so enjoyable helping Phil work on the caboose, my only regret that I did not come out sooner and spend more Saturdays with Phil and the rest of the crew.

Two years ago Phil, Pam and I were working a booth at the Pacific Coast Railroad Roundup in Santa Margarita. Phil wanted to get a cab ride in the steam engine and Pam and I urged him to take a break from the booth and take that cab ride. When Phil got off he had the widest grin, he just said "You need to ride this, this was great!"

Everyone at the Santa Maria Valley Railroad misses Phil, a great fan of the SMVRR.

Rob

Phil was a wonderful man, and would help you in any way he could, and give the shirt off his back if it would help you in any way. He was on his way to play trains so his mind was on happy thoughts. Our hearts and prayers are with his family. Chuck and Joanie

I remember when I first met Phil. That was over 31 years ago, and I was dating his sister. Shortly thereafter, he became my Brother in Law. I couldn't have hand picked a better one. He was more like a brother to me.

There are so many stories that I could relate about Phil, I don't know where to begin. We worked on a number of his cars and trucks together. I remember an old Chevrolet pickup that he had. Also an old Chevrolet or something in pieces scattered around inside his garage. He was trying to restore that. A wonderful little green MGC roadster that he loved to drive. And others, but I don't rightly remember what they were.

We both had an interest in railroading. Mine in HO scale, and his in a bit larger scale, so it seems. I remember Bar-B-Q's at Lopez Lake, his old yellow boat, family reunions, dinners at his home, the old car that his brother Herb and he shared. Seems like everything that I remember, Phil was in someway involved.

After moving to Washington, we looked forward to visits, both up here and in Santa Maria. Couldn't talk him into moving up here though. I remember dinner in Coupeville one night, when Phil talked the chef into preparing a special meal that was not on the menu. The chef told him that he could prepare what he wanted, no problem, and did just that. Phil told the chef that it was delicious, the best he had ever had. That's the way Phil was. So kind and thoughtful. Clam Linguini, if I remember correctly, was what he ordered.

I also remember when I saw the Railroad Museum for the first time, and Phil showed us the caboose. He was so proud of it. I'd heard him talk of it before, but this was the first time that we had seen it. It was just wonderful, and easy to see why it was Phil's pride and joy. We took lots of pictures that day.

And I remember the first time that he took us to see the Bitter Creek Railroad. It was closed that day, but he was able to get us in anyway, and Esther and I got to ride on one of the trains. First time that we had ever ridden on a miniature train, and what a treat. That was the best.

Phil, you have given us lots of wonderful memories, and you were the best. I am going to miss you.

John Mills, Whidbey Island, WA

I met Phil almost 20 years ago when I noticed this guy with the unusual sporty car. I soon found myself working with him in the Plans Shop where I made a deal with him - I would get the trips and he would do the work. Phil did excellent work and we got to see things like the Air Force Museum, the Naval Air Museum. The Space Museum at Huntsville and such other things as a Civil War Fort in Pensacola. A Hooters in Huntsville, the Jack Daniels Distillery, Santa Fe New Mexico and the pure white sands of the Florida Gulf Coast. We got to chase rogue balloons over south Vandenberg and onto the Coho Ranch. We had some good times!

Also we had the chance to talk about the things that interested us, usually over a Scotch. We found that we had a lot of interests in common. We both liked mechanical things like cars and guns. We went shooting at lunch time at the Base Rod and Gun Club. We went out to lunch on occasion. And raised a beer or two at the American Legion.

The mechanical interests led us to railroad trains. Back in 1995 I noticed an old wooden rail car out by the Betteravia Sugar works and asked him to take a look for himself. Well, he did. I believe he was into bicycling then and on one of his rides, he checked it out. It fired our imaginations and we dreamed about operating a Tourist Railroad and Museum in the Valley. We wrote a study, called The Strawberry Train and shopped it around town. It sparked some interest at the Chamber of Commerce and the upshot was that after about three years, a half dozen of us founded the Santa Maria Valley Railway Historical Museum.

If you find the name long and unwieldy, blame Phil - I wanted it shorter! We train Guys (who weren't all guys) soon found ourselves the proud owners of a Wooden Caboose.

Phil saw the possibilities and he became the caBoss of the renovation effort. The one year job took more like three years but it really looks great! We would meet early on a Saturday morning, and Phil would brew some coffee on the Caboose stove and then we would get to work. We soon had to stop using the stove because of paint fumes and dust, but I still remember the coffee!

To raise money for the Museum, Phil would spearhead food booths at various festivals around town. He was a great Pit Boss. This led to our Famous Choo-Chew Saturdays at the miniature Bittercreek Western Railroad. Me, handling the tickets and Phil handling the pit. In fact, it was Phil who introduced me to the Bittercreek Western back when we were working together. He told me about this place that Pam had told him about. I checked it out with him in the early '90s

We have a great Museum today and the reason we do is due to his vision, hard work and dedication. He was a rare individual, a fine man in every sense of the word.

I considered him a friend, but the thing that makes me most proud is the fact that he considered me his friend.

Dan

CaBoss Phil receives a plaque at the Member's Annual Dinner in appreciation of his years of dedicated service leading the restoration project of Caboose No. 180.