Eugene E. English

Eugene E. “Gene” English, age 89, of Bryan, Ohio, died at 3:55 A.M. on Wednesday, July 28, 2010, at Bryan Care and Rehabilitation Center, Bryan, Ohio, where he was a resident. Mr. English was a veteran of World War II, serving as a pilot with the Army Air Corps. He continued his military career in the Air Force Reserves, retiring in 1980 as a lieutenant colonel. After World War II, he began work as a tool and die maker with The Aro Corporation in Bryan and then founded B & G Specialty with Boyd Burkhart in Edgerton, Ohio. After selling that business, he formed Rural Products in Edgerton. Upon selling that business, he was employed by Ohio Art Company, Bryan, until his retirement. In his retirement years, he worked at Nemco in Hicksville, Ohio. Mr. English was an avid fisherman and sailor, who sailed down the Mississippi, around Florida, and up the East Coast to New York in a boat that he built. He was a former member of the Moose Lodge. Eugene E. “Gene” English was born on December 27, 1920, in Defiance County, Ohio, the son of Forrest and Treasa (Wonderly) English. He married Esther V. Karlstadt on June 29, 1946, in Defiance, Ohio, and she preceded him in death on November 29, 1966. He then married Thelma Switzer on May 30, 1969, in Hilliard, Ohio, and she survives in Antwerp, Ohio. Also surviving are one daughter, Jean M. (Frank) Jennings, of Bryan, one stepson, Tom (Linda) Switzer, of Lake Wylie, South Carolina, one stepdaughter, Jane (Rex) McKinney, of Dallas, Texas, two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, four stepgrandchildren, seven stepgreat-grandchildren, and one sister, Ruth Grover, of Fort Wayne, Indiana. Preceding him in death in addition to his first wife were two sisters, Lois Justinger and Eleanor Smith. Visitation will be held on Friday, July 30, 2010, from 4:00-7:00 P.M. in the Krill Funeral Home, 860 West Mulberry Street, Bryan, Ohio. Services will be held at 10:30 A.M. on Saturday, July 31, 2010, in the funeral home. Interment will follow in Ney Cemetery. Grave side military rites will be conducted by the Wright-Patterson AFB Honor Guard. Memorial contributions may be given to the Solana Unit at the Bryan Care and Rehabilitation Center or to the Alzheimer’s Association.