elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Dec 31, 2009 23:19:35 GMT -5
--Not a New Year's Joke - Serious Request
Coming back today 12/31 from a couple days relaxing in Cambria, CA, my family stopped for lunch at Woodstock's pizza in San Luis Obispo. In the place were several flyers about the grandfather of one of the employees. I thought our members, if out roaming, might be able to keep an eye out. The flyer reads:
(Moderator - Please indicate if this posting breaks any rule. I didn't want to alter the flyer information based on the needs of the family involved. )
AT RISK AND MISSING
George Carpenter, age 74 5' 11" 170 pounds
White Male Dementia Grey hair - scruffy white beard
Last Seen - Dec. 23rd in San Luis Obispo with his black lab, Scooter.
Vehicle - Jeep Comanche (1989) Grey with an off-white camper shell.
Darwin fish decal on back above license plate. CA 3w27270
Retired police officer.
He is an avid hiker, rock collector and nature lover. May be lost in wilderness in San Luis Obispo Co., Monterrey Co., or Santa Barbara Co., or headed toward Black Rock Desert, NV, California City, CA, or Flagstaff/Phoenix AZ.
Please call San Luis Obispo Police @ 805-781-7317 or contact your local police with sightings.
***************
There is a picture that I am unable to reproduce, but the vehicle ID should be helpful.
I am the historian of the Ventura Gem and Mineral Society in CA and in our records is the story of one of our members, who in the 1970's wandered away from his son's home and was never seen again. I can't imagine the anguish they went through, nor can I imagine what this family is experiencing.
It's a long shot that any of you have come across him, but keep an eye out if you go out wandering.
Thank you for reading.
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller 
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Jan 1, 2010 11:04:58 GMT -5
Never hurts to post this sort of thing Lowell. When I was a kid, we had a beloved librarian who used to run a nature club for kids, who disappeared in a similar manner. I sometimes think it would be a disservice to bring them back though. I've often wondered if sometimes these nature loving folks just instinctively decide it's time to go back to nature for one last time rather than endure that last crappy slide into oblivion wasting away in a nursing home or hospital as doctors milk your family for every last dollar while they condemn you to the longest period of misery they can manage before your money runs out. I for one, hope I can manage this sort of final demise. I'd much rather go out under the stars and be consumed by the creatures on one of my favorite deserts than in a stinking hospital. But maybe that's just me.....Mel
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Jan 1, 2010 11:54:11 GMT -5
My neighbor is working with her mother right now, who is on a dozen different medications, is being shuffled between two houses, one near her doctor and one here in town where the family actually cares for her and takes care of her. I can see how just fading out under the stars would appeal. I know I never want to be that white-haired man sitting in the corner of a retirement home looking up every time the door opens hoping to recognize anybody who might walk in.
Also, as my wife is an archaeologist, I know that eventually, any burial 'spot' becomes a burial 'site'. It's just a matter of how much time passes between sanctity and science.
As a brief corollary to that thought, the flyer above does serve as a warning. Now that I have all these collecting sites on auto-pilot, once I reach an age where my mental faculties might not be what they should, I'll need a JPS on my truck so if I wander prematurely towards the horizon, I'll be able to be brought back. (I don't want to go off into that 'good night' too early.)
My dad and I once met an older man at the Hauser Beds. He was searching for his favorite place to dig. We spoke to him for several minutes and watched him go. We found him later digging at the main Southern site. We said "Hi" and he then introduced himself and began talking as if we had never met.
Lowell
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huffstuff
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since August 2007
Posts: 1,222
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Post by huffstuff on Jan 2, 2010 14:22:38 GMT -5
Oh, goodness, I hope the man is safe. My heart goes out to his family.
Amy
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elementary
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2006
Posts: 1,077
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Post by elementary on Feb 14, 2010 0:27:32 GMT -5
Last month I related the story of George Carpenter, a retired police officer and rockhound suffering from dementia who disappeared two days before Christmas, 2009. At the time no clues were available as to where he may have been. (He had driven away before and wound up near California City and was found suffering from dehydration.) New and disheartening information has been uncovered. On January 20th, near the town of Gorda off Highway 1, George Carpenter’s dog Scooter, which had been with him when he disappeared, was found. The dog was in fair condition, though thin. This discovery led to an increased search effort and Monterey County Sheriff’s deputies, during an aerial search, found his vehicle outside the Fort Hunter Liggett grounds, which is at an elevation of 3,300 feet. It was unoccupied. At the time a light snow was falling and the snow level had dropped to 2,000 feet. On January 31, Scooter was taken to the location where the car had been found in hopes that he might be able to lead the search team to Mr. Carpenter’s whereabouts. The effort failed. At this point, all additional official searching has been called off and authorities have told family members not to attempt to search the area themselves due to the rough terrain. The Facebook site which had been set up for Mr. Carpenter has been shut down. For notes, see the following: z10.invisionfree.com/usedtobedoe/index.php?showtopic=54924&view=getnewposthelpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=19546 |
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Sabre52
Cave Dweller
Me and my gal, Rosie
Member since August 2005
Posts: 20,494
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Post by Sabre52 on Feb 14, 2010 0:50:08 GMT -5
Sad news. FT. Hunter Legget is right by the big sandy Creek jasper areas, sort of a abck door into the Stone Canyon region. I've hunted there a lot and it's very very rough country famous for it's huge population of wild boars. Maybe the old gent died happy on one last rockhounding trip into beautiful wild country. I'd like to think so anyway. Beats a drooling slow demise in a nursing home any day...Mel
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cdfcal
having dreams about rocks
Member since June 2011
Posts: 59
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Post by cdfcal on Oct 7, 2012 8:12:42 GMT -5
Hunter Legget is very rough, lots of snakes and unexploded ordinance...Dry as a popcorn fart!
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