Gene Stallsmith 1925-2015
Eugene Laverne “Gene” Stallsmith, 90, of Topeka, passed away Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, at the VA Community Living Center.
He was born March 11, 1925, in Cherokee, the son of Frank and Georgia (Snow) Stallsmith.
Gene was a Staff Sergeant in the Army Air Corp during World War II as an aerial gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress, where he flew 15 combat missions to Germany. He was stationed in Bury St. Edmonds, England. Gene was awarded the Air Medal and the Bronze Star.
Gene married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Alice Heth, on June 25, 1950, in Parsons. Gene was an accountant for the Katy Railroad in Parsons until 1959, when he became a state trooper for the Kansas Highway Patrol, retiring after 25 years. He was stationed in Iola, Holton and Topeka. Gene enjoyed restoring and collecting antique cars, toys, toy trains, and his favorite was steam engines.
He is survived by his son, Mark (Brenda) Stallsmith, of Coffeyville; three grandchildren, Mark Ryan (Kylee) Stallsmith, of Havana, Hannah (Nick) Nolte, of South Coffeyville, Okla., and Travis Magner, of Topeka; and four great-grandchildren, Harper and Jentry Stallsmith and Paisley and Tripp Nolte.
Gene was preceded in death by his wife; daughter, Karen Sue Crook; grandson, Brandon Crook; and brother, Bill Stallsmith.
A funeral ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 6 at Penwell-Gabel Mid-Town Chapel, 1321 S.W. 10th Ave., Topeka. Burial will follow in West Lawn Cemetery, Topeka. The family will receive friends an hour prior to the service.
Memorial contributions may be made to the No One Veteran Dies Alone Fund, Voluntary Services T135, 2200 S.W. Gage Blvd., Topeka, KS 66622.
To leave a message for the family online, please visit www.PenwellGabelTopeka.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
