Memorials › Eugene "Gene" Blasingame
Eugene "Gene" Blasingame
2 Jan 1925 – 27 May 2009
| Birth | 2 Jan 1925 |
| Death | 27 May 2009 |
| Cemetery | Evergreen Memorial Park McMinnville , Yamhill County , Oregon , USA |
| Added by | Bill Myers on 19 Jan 2017 |
| FaG | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167666009 |
Bio
Obit - provided by a family member from Dayton, Oregon Clipping dated "A4 Saturday, May 30, 2009" EUGENE "GENE" BLASINGAME 1925-2009 Eugene "Gene" Blasingame passed away on May 27, 2009 at his home in Dayton. Memorial services will be held at a later date. "Gene" was born on Jan. 2, 1925 in Wellington, Texas to Albert and Birdie Lucile Wood Blasingame, their first child. He spent his youth growing up in Texas, attending many schools, as the family moved to different locations due to his father's work in road construction. He did receive his high school GED with an equivalent of two years of college. Gene enlisted in the U.S. Army on May 13, 1943 and participated in the Normandy Landing in France. He was with the 115th Infantry Reg., 29th Divison I Co., 30th Task Force. He drove a 14-foot vehicle on tracks, hauling ammunition to the front. Gene was wounded going into Saint-Lo, and hospitalized in England. He returned to the states in October, 1944 and was placed in a hospital in Palm Springs, Calif. Once released from the hospital, Gene was based at Camp Beale, a Separation Center in northern California. He was in the motor pool until his discharge on March 2, 1946. While at Beale, Gene met and married Wanda Caldwell of Oroville, Calif., on Dec. 8, 1945 in Marysville, Calif. She then worked in Civilian Personnel at the base and was able to prepare his discharge papers. Gene received a number of medals, including the Purple Heart, Bronze Star, Combat Inf. Badge (BDG Qual. 1st Award) and European-African-Middle-Eastern Campaign Badge with Bronze Service Star and Arrowhead. As a civilian, Gene worked in many fields: heavy equipment operator, service station manager, timber faller, etc. When retired, they traveled south in their motor home and spent winter months along the Colorado River and desert area near Blythe, Calif. There, he earned the CB handle of "Catfish." He loved fishing and took great pleasure in raising a vegetable garden and being with his poodle, Tasha. He wrote stories, poetry, worked on a novel and up until his death, he produced and mailed out periodically, a family newsletter to relatives in six states. The newsletter contained some genealogy and current facts and activities. He was proud of his ancestry. His maternal lineage traced back to the Newman and Rabbs that were among the 300 families of Stephen F. Austin's first colony in Texas. He was a life member of the DAV and supported the VFW. Gene was a Yamhill County resident for 20 years. Gene is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wanda, of rural Dayton; three sons, Vaughn and Joyce Blasingame of Scio, Dennis and Avis Blasingame of Forest Grove; Gerry and Peggy Blasingame of Redding, Calif., and daughter Gwen and Ken Monagon of Dayton; brothers Travis and Barbara Blasingame of Fortuna, Calif.; John Blasingame of Texas; brothers-in-law Bill and Mamie Caldwell of Healdsburg, Calif., and Don and Melva Caldwell of Sheridan; sisters-in-law Shirley Kegg of Sacramento, Calif., and Eldora Walker of Oroville, Calif.; 10 grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren, a 16th due soon. He was preceded in death by his brother, Glenn Blasingame. Our loved one will be greatly missed, but remains in our hearts forever. He's my love, our Dad, Grandpa and Poppa. Memorial contributions may be made to Providence Hospice c/o Macy & Son. To leave online condolences, please visit www.macyanderson.com. Thanks to Bill Myers for contributing the burial location for Eugene Blasingame. January 19, 2017.
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