Eugene W. 'Gene' Whitmer Sr.
Eugene W. “Gene” Whitmer Sr., 65, of Tonawanda, N.Y., formerly of Kerr Avenue, Emlenton, went home to be with the Lord at 2:30 a.m. Sunday at the Roswell Cancer Institute in Buffalo, N.Y., following a brief illness.
Born March 7, 1946, in East Brady, Gene was the son of Clifford and Grace M. Silvis Whitmer.
He had attended Emlenton schools.
A Vietnam Era veteran of the U.S. Navy, Gene served aboard the USS Orion.
He had been employed for more than 30 years at Pennzoil in Rouseville.
He was a born-again Christian evangelical believer.
Gene enjoyed researching genealogies and was an avid Civil War enthusiast, having recently visited Gettysburg. He was a Pittsburgh Steelers and Pittsburgh Penguins fan.
He first was married to the former Nora Kennane, June 14, 1969, in Jamestown, N.Y. Nora preceded him in death Dec. 23, 1999. He later married the former Ruth Moceri Reeves. She survives in Tonawanda, N.Y.
Also surviving are three children, E. Wayne Whitmer Jr. and his wife, Rowie, of Albuquerque, N.M., Michelle Best of Emlenton and Brian J. Whitmer and his wife, Carrie, of Butler; four grandchildren, Spc. Joshua Best, serving with the U.S. Army at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Natasha Best of Emlenton and Noah J. Whitmer and Sophia G. Whitmer, both of Butler; a brother, Clifford “Junior” Whitmer and his wife, Helen, of Emlenton; two stepchildren, Stacia Reeves and Karis Amadori, both of Buffalo; his mother-in-law, Gertrude Moceri; as well as a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
In addition to his parents and his first wife, Mr. Whitmer was preceded in death by a grandson, Corey Whitmer; two sisters, Eileen Curry and Louise Regal; and a brother, Donald Whitmer.
<B>WHITMER </B>— Friends of Eugene W. “Gene” Whitmer Sr., who died Sunday, Nov. 6, 2011, will be received at <B>Hile Funeral Home</B>, 1204 Kerr Ave., Emlenton, from 6 to 9 p.m. Wednesday. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the funeral home with the Rev. Jacob Langdon, pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church of Emlenton, officiating. Interment, with military honors, will follow in Zion Union Cemetery, Emlenton.Memorial contributions in Mr. Whitmer's name may be made to the Upstate New York Transplant Service (UNYTS), 110 Broadway St., Buffalo, NY 14203.For additional information or to send a condolence, please visit www.hilefh.com.
