Eugene "Gene" Aldrich's Obituary
Eugene 'Gene' Aldrich, age 80, of Centerville, Iowa, died Saturday, October 25, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Centerville. He was born on October 1, 1934 in Hawarden, Iowa, the oldest of three sons of Anthony D. and Juliette (Muller) Aldrich. He graduated from Madison Central High School in Madison, South Dakota in 1952. In December of 1952, Gene joined the United States Air Force and served for over fourteen years. While in the service he continued his education in mathematics and electronics. In October of 1966, he was honorably discharged and went to work for Conductron, a division of McDonald Douglas, as a design engineer, designing and building the flight simulator for the Boeing 737 airplane. In May of 1968, he returned to Iowa to teach physics, math and computers in the Computer Maintenance Department at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa. Then in November of 1972, he purchased a Standard Oil Station in Ottumwa, where he was self employed. On January 12, 1976, Gene was united in marriage to Lillian Klein in Ottumwa, Iowa, where they lived until June of 1985, when he an Lillian moved to Centerville, Iowa and purchased the Don Elen Motel in Centerville. Gene was a very active in the community; he was a past Centerville City Councilman, was a member of the Centerville Rotary Club and served as its President twice, member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a 4th Degree Knight. He was a member of Jackson Lodge #42 in Centerville and the Centerville York Rite Bodies - Euclid Chapter #43, Chalden Council #48, and St. Johns Commandery #21, Kaaba Temple and the Scottish Rite in Davenport, Iowa, Ottumwa and Centerville Shrine Clubs, and Order of the Eastern Star. In 1985, Gene was installed as the Grand Commander of Iowa for the Knights Templar of Iowa. He conducted many Masonic Memorial Services for his fellow Masons, and served his Church, Lodge and Community in many ways to make them a better place to live work, and play.He was preceded in death by: his parents.Gene is survived by: his wife, Lillian Aldrich of Centerville, Iowa; his sons, Phil Aldrich, and Dana Aldrich of Prattville, Alabama; daughters, Julia Roberts of Sunnyvale, California and Linda Spurlock of Bloomfield, Iowa; grandchildren, Matthew Slye, Melissa Hiatt, Bryon and Pearl Roberts; great grandchildren, Addison and Andrew Slye; brothers, Joe Aldrich of Chester, South Dakota, Duane Aldrich of Hawarden, Iowa and Bernard Bechtel of Holts Summit, Missouri; and a sister, Toni Shroeder Sly of Des Moines, Iowa.Mass of Christian burial will be held at 11 am, Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Centerville, Iowa with Fr. William Hubmann officiating. Burial later at the Shaul Cemetery in Ottumwa, Iowa. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 from 1 pm until 8 pm at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Centerville with the family present from 6 pm until 8 pm. A Masonic and Commandery Service will be held at 7 pm at the funeral home. Memorials can be made to St. Mary's Catholic Church, Knights Templar Eye Foundation or HCI Care Services (Hospice of Central Iowa) and can be mailed to or left at the funeral home. The To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Eugene "Gene" Aldrich please visit our Sympathy Store.
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