Everett Eugene ‘Gene’ Penn
January 2, 2018 at 8:33 p.m.
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Gene was born July 24, 1933, in Bracken, to Everett J. and Lydia Lucille Aughinbaugh Penn. The birth took place in the living quarters upstairs. Everett and Lucille ran a small country store on the first level. Lucille ran the store most of the time while Everett worked for various farmers in the surrounding area.
Gene started school in the rural South Whitley area. When Gene’s dad purchased a small farm south of North Manchester, he had to change schools to the North Manchester school system. Gene attended school there until the family moved to Whitley County school area. Gene transferred early so that he could have a formal eighth-grade graduation that was not offered in North Manchester.
While attending South Whitley High School, Gene met Joe Metzger, who was teaching agriculture and math. With Joe’s guidance, Gene became very active in Future Farmers of America and eventually he was elected the state president after graduating in 1951. Gene had several scholarship offers and eventually decided to attend Purdue University. He left Purdue early to join the Air Force and served his country during the Korean War.
After completing basic and specialty training, Gene was sent to Japan, where he used his Purdue training to make major changes in how military air traffic was handled. These changes worked wonders for air crews. When his assignment to Japan was completed, Gene was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. His intention was to make the Air Force his lifelong profession, but the top-ranking officers convinced him that he could and should change to civilian life.
A team of officers arranged interviews with the several large companies in the Dayton area. The result was an offer from the National Cash Register (NCR) Co. Gene accepted their offer in August 1957.
For the next 36½ years, Gene gave his work career to NCR. He climbed the ladder of management from training salesman to vice president of various areas around the world. He and his wife, Jane, spent three years in South Africa; nine years in York, Pa.; five years in Los Angeles, Calif.; and five years in Las Vegas, Nev. He retired in 1993.
Gene married the love of his life, Mary Jane McCain, on Oct. 30, 1976, in Centerville, Ohio. They spent 41 blissful years together.
Gene was a Mason and a member of the Zeredatha Lodge of York, the Harrisburg (Pa.) Consistory and the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg
Gene is survived by his loving wife, Jane; his loving sister, Joann (Joe) Rex; his loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces; nephew, and his brother-in-law, Mitch McCain.
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials to Indiana FFA or the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Condolences may be sent at smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.
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Gene was born July 24, 1933, in Bracken, to Everett J. and Lydia Lucille Aughinbaugh Penn. The birth took place in the living quarters upstairs. Everett and Lucille ran a small country store on the first level. Lucille ran the store most of the time while Everett worked for various farmers in the surrounding area.
Gene started school in the rural South Whitley area. When Gene’s dad purchased a small farm south of North Manchester, he had to change schools to the North Manchester school system. Gene attended school there until the family moved to Whitley County school area. Gene transferred early so that he could have a formal eighth-grade graduation that was not offered in North Manchester.
While attending South Whitley High School, Gene met Joe Metzger, who was teaching agriculture and math. With Joe’s guidance, Gene became very active in Future Farmers of America and eventually he was elected the state president after graduating in 1951. Gene had several scholarship offers and eventually decided to attend Purdue University. He left Purdue early to join the Air Force and served his country during the Korean War.
After completing basic and specialty training, Gene was sent to Japan, where he used his Purdue training to make major changes in how military air traffic was handled. These changes worked wonders for air crews. When his assignment to Japan was completed, Gene was transferred to Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. His intention was to make the Air Force his lifelong profession, but the top-ranking officers convinced him that he could and should change to civilian life.
A team of officers arranged interviews with the several large companies in the Dayton area. The result was an offer from the National Cash Register (NCR) Co. Gene accepted their offer in August 1957.
For the next 36½ years, Gene gave his work career to NCR. He climbed the ladder of management from training salesman to vice president of various areas around the world. He and his wife, Jane, spent three years in South Africa; nine years in York, Pa.; five years in Los Angeles, Calif.; and five years in Las Vegas, Nev. He retired in 1993.
Gene married the love of his life, Mary Jane McCain, on Oct. 30, 1976, in Centerville, Ohio. They spent 41 blissful years together.
Gene was a Mason and a member of the Zeredatha Lodge of York, the Harrisburg (Pa.) Consistory and the Zembo Shrine in Harrisburg
Gene is survived by his loving wife, Jane; his loving sister, Joann (Joe) Rex; his loving children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; nieces; nephew, and his brother-in-law, Mitch McCain.
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Burial will be in South Whitley Cemetery.
Visitation will be from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
*****
Memorials to Indiana FFA or the Shriners Hospitals for Children.
Condolences may be sent at smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.
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