Ambassador George Herbert

Co-Founded International Goodwill Ambassadors Inner Circle

Ambassador George Herbert was a founding member of the International Goodwill Ambassadors Inner Circle. He is remembered fondly by his friends and for his contributions to the organization.

Obituary for Ambassador George Arthur Herbert

Memorial Service for local businessman George A. Herbert, 87, was held at 4:00pm. Tue at their home in Sparks, NV. Dr. Herb Ireland from Sparks Nazarene Church officiated. Burial was at 10:00am on Thursday July 18, 2002 at Mountain View Cemetery in Columbus, Montana. George died of natural causes on Thursday, July 11, 2002 at Northern Nevada Medical Center in Sparks, Nevada.

George Arthur Herbert was born August 14, 2914 to Arthur Justinian and Caroline Emily (Slough) Herbert at Lake Basin, Montana. He grew up in Rapelje, Montana and attended Rapelje High School, graduating in 1932 and then attended the Coyne Electrical School in Illinois. 

A vehicle accident in Yellowstone Park in 1936 left him with broken vertebrates and legally blind in his left eye. Because of his injuries, he wasn't drafted but worked on U.S. Navy ships as a Refrigeration Engineer in Bellingham, WA. In 1950 he arrived in Sparks, NV with 35 cents and half a tank of gas. He continued to work in the refrigeration business until he saved $2900 to purchase a plot of land on Glendale Avenue where he started and operated Herbert's Refrigeration for the next 48 years. He married Mei Hu Hinen on August 28, 1979 in Reno, NV. He continued to operate his business until 2000 when he was forced to retire for health reasons. 

The Governor of Nevada proclaimed August 14, 1993 as George Herbert Day. In 1989 he was awarded the Mayor's Award by the City of Sparks. George was a life member of the national Republican Senatorial Inner Circle, Sertoma International, Lions International, and the Fraternal Order of Elks International. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Award by the Sertoma International for his volunteer efforts. He was also a past treasurer of the Northern Nevada Sertoma Club. 

Survivors include his wife Mei; his son from his marriage to Maybelle Pelette, Gene Herbert of Billings, MT and Gene's children Chello and Kim; sons Tony Hinen of Woodbridge, VA and his children Jeremy and Joshua; Jim Hinen of Sparks, NV and his children Stephanie, Sarah, and Rachel; Paul Hinen of Winnemucca, NV and his children Anthony, Branden, and Angelina, and daughter Teri (Hinen) Morris of Enniscorthy, Ireland and her children Jonathan, Rachel, George, Daniel and Mark. 

Surviving sisters include Alice Patrick of Seattle, WA; Maybelle Day of St. George, UT; Helen Sears of Kalispell, MT; and Paula Davis of Billings, MT. He was preceded in death by his sister Mildred Herbert in 1974, and brother Richard Herbert in 1999. 

"For this God is our God forever and ever; he will be our guide even unto death." Psalms 48:14