Eugene D. "Gene" Harper, 97, of Parsons died at 4:35 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2014, at Elmhaven East nursing home.
He was born June 30, 1916, at Iola to Grenzy and Margaret (Dorris) Harper. He spent his early years in Iola and moved to Parsons at the age of 16. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1936 and attended Parsons Junior College one year.
On Aug. 20, 1939, he married Lorraine Orr in Parsons. She preceded him in death on June 7, 1985.
The Harpers lived in Los Angeles from 1941 to 1955 when he was employed by Rockwell International as a supervisor of aircraft manufacturing. They moved in 1955 to Neosho, Mo., where he worked as general manager of maintenance for Rocketdyne Co. He worked in Tulsa as a foreman of aircraft manufacturing from 1969 to 1971. In 1971 he retired and returned to Parsons.
Gene was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and had been active in its Criterion Class and with the Tuesday Morning Men. He was a former member of the Parsons Lions Club and the Elks Lodge. He had served as president of the Optimist Club in Parsons and was a past lieutenant governor in that organization. In Neosho he was a member and past patron of the Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge and was active in the Saddle Club and Sheriff's Posse. He had traveled all over the Four-State area on horseback with the 4-H Square Dance Club. Gene enjoyed gardening, stained glass window work and carpentry work.
Survivors include his son, Alan Harper and his wife, Carolyn, of Parsons; a daughter, Mary Margaret Storrs and her husband, Stuart, of Overland Park; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; and three stepsisters, Robert Badders of Kansas City, Kan., Freda Johnson of Warrensburg, Mo., and Elizabeth "Bernadene" Yelton of Independence, Mo.
His parents, seven brothers, a sister and two stepbrothers preceded him in death.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charlotte Coates officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church and can be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences can be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
Eugene D. "Gene" Harper, 97, of Parsons died at 4:35 p.m. Monday, May 12, 2014, at Elmhaven East nursing home.
He was born June 30, 1916, at Iola to Grenzy and Margaret (Dorris) Harper. He spent his early years in Iola and moved to Parsons at the age of 16. He graduated from Parsons High School in 1936 and attended Parsons Junior College one year.
On Aug. 20, 1939, he married Lorraine Orr in Parsons. She preceded him in death on June 7, 1985.
The Harpers lived in Los Angeles from 1941 to 1955 when he was employed by Rockwell International as a supervisor of aircraft manufacturing. They moved in 1955 to Neosho, Mo., where he worked as general manager of maintenance for Rocketdyne Co. He worked in Tulsa as a foreman of aircraft manufacturing from 1969 to 1971. In 1971 he retired and returned to Parsons.
Gene was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church and had been active in its Criterion Class and with the Tuesday Morning Men. He was a former member of the Parsons Lions Club and the Elks Lodge. He had served as president of the Optimist Club in Parsons and was a past lieutenant governor in that organization. In Neosho he was a member and past patron of the Order of Eastern Star and Masonic Lodge and was active in the Saddle Club and Sheriff's Posse. He had traveled all over the Four-State area on horseback with the 4-H Square Dance Club. Gene enjoyed gardening, stained glass window work and carpentry work.
Survivors include his son, Alan Harper and his wife, Carolyn, of Parsons; a daughter, Mary Margaret Storrs and her husband, Stuart, of Overland Park; five grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a great-great-grandson; and three stepsisters, Robert Badders of Kansas City, Kan., Freda Johnson of Warrensburg, Mo., and Elizabeth "Bernadene" Yelton of Independence, Mo.
His parents, seven brothers, a sister and two stepbrothers preceded him in death.
The service will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Wesley United Methodist Church with the Rev. Charlotte Coates officiating. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Carson-Wall Funeral Home.
Memorials are suggested to Wesley United Methodist Church and can be left at or mailed to the funeral home, P.O. Box 942, Parsons, 67357.
Online condolences can be left at www.wallfuneralservices.com.
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