George Floyd Eitemiller

Who was Mr George Floyd Eitemiller?

Mr George Floyd Eitemiller was a 25 (twenty-five) year-old American second-class passenger aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic. Born in November 1886 in Allegheny, Pennsylvania, Eitemiller worked as a European representative for a Cincinnati automobile company before his tragic demise in the Titanic disaster on April 15, 1912.

Early Life and Family

Pennsylvania Roots

George Floyd Eitemiller was born into a family with strong Pennsylvania ties. His father, George M. Eitemiller, born in 1849, worked as a telegraph operator and hailed from Pennsylvania with German ancestry. His mother, Cecilia May Winton, born in 1858, originated from Virginia. The couple married on March 31, 1878, in St Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fulton, Pennsylvania.

Sibling and Childhood

George had one sibling:

• Frank Winton Eitemiller (1878-1934)

The 1900 census provides a glimpse into young George’s life, showing him residing with his family in Bellevue, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.

Career and Travel

Automobile Industry Representative

George Eitemiller carved out a career in the burgeoning automobile industry of the early 20th century. Prior to his fateful Titanic journey, he had been working abroad as a European representative for a Cincinnati automobile company, showcasing his ambition and willingness to travel for his profession.

Titanic Journey

What brought George Eitemiller to the Titanic’s maiden voyage?

George boarded the Titanic in Southampton as a second-class passenger, holding ticket number 29751, which cost £13. His last known address before embarking was the Bonnington Hotel on Southampton Row in London, indicating he had been staying in England, likely for work. His final destination was listed as 29 Webb Avenue, Detroit, suggesting he was returning home after his European business travels.

The Fateful Night

Tragedy Strikes

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, George Eitemiller, like many others, faced the horrors of the Titanic’s sinking. Despite being a young man of 25, he was unable to secure a place on a lifeboat. George perished in the disaster, his body never identified if recovered at all.

Legacy and Family Aftermath

A Family Torn Asunder

The loss of George Floyd Eitemiller had a profound impact on his family:

• His mother, Cecilia, is believed to have passed away within a few years of the tragedy.
• His father relocated to Kansas City, Missouri, to be closer to his surviving son, Frank. The fate of George’s father after this move remains uncertain.

Brother’s Life

Frank Winton Eitemiller, George’s older brother, lived a life marked by various pursuits:

• Worked in the nickel industry
• Married twice:
  1. Blanche Cromwell Patterson (1875-1962) in 1903
  2. Estelle Sarah Tuthill (1883-1956) after divorcing his first wife
• Had one child from his second marriage, Frank Winton Jr. (1924-1987)
• Later worked in the hotel industry
• Lived in Missouri and Pennsylvania before settling in Toledo, Ohio
• Passed away on October 8, 1934

Remembering George Floyd Eitemiller

While George’s life was cut tragically short, his memory lives on. A memorial dedicated to George Eitemiller stands at Woodlawn Cemetery in Detroit, Michigan, serving as a poignant reminder of the young life lost in one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters.

George Floyd Eitemiller’s story, though brief, encapsulates the dreams and ambitions of many young Americans of his time. His willingness to travel for his career and his presence on the Titanic’s maiden voyage speak to the spirit of adventure and progress that characterized the early 20th century. Today, he is remembered not only as a victim of the Titanic but as a representation of the countless lives and potential cut short by the tragedy.