Eugene L Steele's Obituary
EUGENE L. STEELE, 95
Eugene L. Steele, 95, of Clearwater, Florida, passed away on Monday, September 28, 2015. Gene was born in December 1919 in Franklin, Pa., to Rood P. and Ella N. Steele. He attended high school in Franklin and then graduated from the Robert Morris School of Business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In 1941, Eugene married Lois Mae Cowin, also of Franklin.
Eugene volunteered for military service in July 1944, was assigned to the 28th Infantry Division and served in Belgium, France, and Germany. Always outgoing, Eugene befriended a family in Belgium, a relationship that continued with several exchanges of visits and weekly phone calls for 70 years up to and including the day of his passing.
After World War II Eugene returned to Franklin and his employer, the Printz Co, a regional fine clothing chain. During his 36-year tenure, he rose to positions as Secretary-Treasure and Director.
In 1950 Eugene, Lois and their three children relocated to Jamestown NY where he was active in the First Methodist Church and was a member of the church choir. Gene was also active and selected for leadership roles in many service and civic organizations. He was a past president of the Maplehurst Country Club, the Jamestown Shrine Club and played cymbals and glockenspiel in the Shrine Drum and Bugle Corps.
In 1985 Eugene and Lois relocated to Clearwater, Florida where he was a member of the Clearwater Country Club, an ardent stamp collector, and a computer enthusiast. Eugene designed and coded his own financial management program which he maintained throughout the rest of his life. He also presently served as Director of Eupen Cable U.S.A. Inc, a division of Kablewerk Eupen AG of Eupen, Belgium.
In 2012, Lois and Gene relocated to the Horizon Bay Assisted Living Residence in Clearwater, where they lived the rest of their years. In 2013 Lois and Gene were honored in television and newspaper features when they renewed their vows after 72 years of marriage.
Eugene was preceded in death by his wife, Lois; his parents; one daughter, Doris Pattison; two brothers, Harry and Donald Steele; and a sister, Geraldine Hamilton. His survivors include a brother, Glenn Steele and his wife Joanne, of Coral Springs, FL; a sister, Peg Vredevoogd and her husband Denny, of Jenison, MI. Also surviving are a daughter, Beverly McMichael and her husband James of Novi, MI; a son William Steele and his wife Kathryn of Plattsburgh, NY; grandchildren Donald Pettit and his wife Valerie of Anchorage, AK; Gene Pettit and his wife Anne, of Elma, NY; Marci Maro and her husband, Robin of Lecanto, FL; Jeffrey Franklin of Allen Park, MI; Bradley Franklin and his wife Karyn, of White Lake, MI; Katherine McMichael of San Diego, CA; Julie Steele-Goodwin and her husband, Aaron of Plattsburgh, NY; and Matthew Steele of Plattsburgh, NY. He is also survived by fourteen great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be conducted at 12:30 PM, October 20, 2015 at the Moss Feaster Funeral Home in Dunedin, FL. It will be preceded by a gathering of relatives and friends at 11:30 AM. Interment will be at Bay Pines Veterans Cemetery immediately following the memorial service. Memorials in his name may be made to the Suncoast Hospice or to a charity of your choice.
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