George Richard Vorhies rescued Roy H. Wesley from burning, Florence, Kentucky, January 19, 1983. Following an accident involving his tractor-trailer, Wesley, 45, was pinned, unconscious and aflame, in the wreckage of his truck’s cab. Vorhies, 44, truck driver, ran to the cab, disregarding the flames surrounding it. With difficulty, he removed Wesley and began to carry him away as one of the truck’s fuel tanks exploded, sending flames over both men. Vorhies fell to the ground and extinguished flames first on himself and then on Wesley. Wesley recovered from extensive third-degree burns, and Vorhies from lesser ones.
58897-6782Obituary
George Richard “Dick” Vorhies, 87, of Cambridge, passed peacefully with the comfort of family, in Pleasant City, Ohio, on January 1, 2026.
He was born September 21, 1938, a son of the late John Voorhies and Anna (Swank) Voorhies.
George was a retired Truck Driver and faithfully served his country in both the United States Marine Corp and the U.S. Army, having been honorably discharged from both branches of service.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Joan Fitch.
He is survived by Darlene W. (Atwood) Vorhies, of the home, three sons; Rick (Niki) Vorhies of Indiana, Daniel (& Haylie) Vorhies of Monterey, CA, and Brian (& Bridget) Vorhies of Cambridge. Two daughters; Mishelle Henson of New Concord, Angela (& Bob) Shepard of Cambridge, and a brother, John (& Cindy) Voorhies of Pleasant City. Two sisters; Alice Owens of Bellbrook, OH and Mary (& Dave) Jakubisin of Byesville. Eleven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and many good friends.
George was a graduate of Old Washington High School. He loved his family time in his later years after he retired. He spent many days having lunch with dinner crowd at several local diners. He always enjoyed telling a good story and taking his “4-legged buddy” Spike with him around town. After lunch was a good time for a nap and western tv show after a 4-wheeler ride around the farm.
In January of 1983, George was honored as a Carnegie Hero, a distinct award he received for rescuing a fellow truck driver from a burning semi-truck. Later in life, he was honored by that family at a reunion at their home in Kentucky. The heroic actions by him on that day showed his grit and determination that he instilled throughout his family daily until his passing day.