Gerald M. Romine, 95, of Mentone, passed peacefully at 6:55 p.m. Saturday, March 9, 2024, at his residence.
Gerald was born on July 30, 1928, in Mentone, to J. Monroe “Dutch” and Maude Hissong Romine. He had a brother Kenneth and a sister Janet. He was a 1946 graduate from Mentone High School.
In July 1946, he went right into the U.S. Army. He attended basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Belvoir, Va. In November 1946, he was sent off to Camp Kilmer, N.J., to await orders to Italy. He served from September 1946 until he was honorably discharged in November 1947 with the rank of technician fourth grade (E4). During his service he received the World War II Victory Medal, Army Occupation Medal and the M1 Sharpshooter Rifleman Badge.
After Gerald’s discharge from the U.S. Army, he enlisted into the U.S. Air Force Reserves in 1950. He was stationed at Atterbury Army Airfield near Columbus, Ind., which was separate from the U.S. Army’s training facility at Camp Atterbury. Gerald was assigned to the 434th Air Refueling Wing.
Gerald married Donna Lee Linn on Jan. 29, 1950. Their union brought the birth of their children Gary and Susan.
In 1951, Gerald was recalled to active duty and told to report to Scott Air Force Base in East St. Louis, Ill. He reported back to the Air Force Reserve unit where he remained until his discharge in 1955 with the rank of technical sergeant (E6).
In his civilian life, Gerald was an electrical contractor and owner of Romine Electric for over 50 years. During that time, he serviced homes, factories and many businesses in the Mentone and surrounding area.
Gerald continued to look for ways to serve his community. He was the founder and director of the Bell Aircraft Museum in Mentone from 1973 to 1978. He became the first president of the Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Dept. Merit Board and served as president for Mentone’s Town Board, Chamber of Commerce and Alumni Association. He served on the Advisory Board for Murphy Medical Center and the Rozella Ford Golf Course in Warsaw. For 10 years he was a Marshal during the Phoenix Open golf tournament in Arizona.
After the tragic passing of his wife Donna on July 22, 1988, he later married Elvira L. "Beezy" Reed on Nov. 24, 1995. She preceded him on Nov. 28, 2018.
In May 2011, Gerald received the 434th Air Refueling Wing Honorary Aircrew Member Award, at which time he was fortunate enough to participate in a refueling mission in an old KC-135R Stratotanker with the combat-ready aircrew in 2014.
Gerald is survived by his children, Gary Romine, of Mentone; and Susan and husband Eldon Kinney, of Silver Lake; granddaughters: Teena, Sarah and Emily; two great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren; sister, Janet Smith and husband Don Hall, of Atwood; nephew, Ken Romine; and his caregiver, Linda Frenger. He was also preceded by his parents, brother and sister-in-law, Kenneth and Mary Esther Romine; brother-in-law, Thomas Smith; niece, Pam Smith; and nephews, John and Bob Romine.
Gerald was a proud Democrat. He served his party as a delegate to the Conventions from 1972 to 1986. He was a life member of the American Legion, as well as the Past Commander, and Veteran of Foreign Wars and was a proud member of the Mentone community.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 21 at the Mentone Cemetery, Mentone, with graveside military rites performed to honor his service.
The arrangements have been entrusted to King Memorial Home, 101 N. Tucker St., Mentone.
Memorial contributions can be made in his memory to the Mentone 4-way Ambulance Service.
Share a memory or send an online condolence at www.hartzlerfuneralservices.com.