Gene H. Huston

Gene H. Huston, age 95 passed away on Monday, September 11, 2017, at 4:09 AM, in Maple Farm Nursing Center, Akron, PA of heart failure and age-related dementia after a long and eventful life. He was born on March 30, 1922 in Franklin, Venango County, PA to Walter 'Bud' and Minnie Mae (ne Whitman) Huston. After tuberculosis claimed his mother when he was just nine years old, Mabel Huston became a loving stepmother. Gene lived in Franklin through high school, then Oil City, Johnstown, Randolph, NJ, Adamstown and New Holland at Garden Spot Village. The US Navy awarded him the Bronze Star combat medal for action in WWII. Gene served as Radioman First Class in the Battle of the Atlantic, dodging torpedoes from German wolf packs. Then he volunteered for hazardous duty in Japanese occupied China with Naval Intelligence, where the unit's duties included rescuing downed American pilots. After the war Gene graduated from Grove City College on the GI bill, becoming a Licensed Professional Engineer in both PA and NJ. Gene enjoyed over 35 years of retirement after a 33-year career as a Manager at Penelec and General Public Utilities (now First Energy). He oversaw design and construction of long-distance electric transmission lines serving Canada, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. After retiring, he and his wife Mary Ellen travelled around the US and Mexico in their RV, making many friends along the way. He was a person of faith and active in Presbyterian Churches in Oil City and Johnstown, as well as the Peace United Church of Christ, Swartzville,after moving to Adamstown. An avid hiker and Keystone Trails Association member, Gene organized volunteer crews and spent many days on trail care, especially his sections of Pennsylvania's Mid State Trail. Always one to help others, Gene's service included Kiwanis, the Community Chest, School District Finance Board and the Tuberculosis Society. Gene was a 33 Mason, Past Master (1960) of Petrolia Lodge No. 363 in Oil City, a member of the Venango Lodge of Perfection and the Adamstown VFW. Gene's wife Mary Ellen (ne Cather), with whom he celebrated a 71st Anniversary, predeceased him in 2014. He is survived by his son Jon and his wife Donna of Randolph, NJ, daughter Jane and her husband, Ernest Werstler of Reamstown, granddaughters Meredith, Marissa and her husband Paul Schimpf, a great-grandson Leo Schimpf, a sister Nancy Nicks of Lake Wales, FL and nine nephews and nieces in New England and Florida.Funeral services will be held Saturday, September 16, 2017, at 11:00 AM, with Masonic Rites by Ephrata Lodge #665 Free Accepted Masons, followed by the religious service officiated by The Rev. William E. Hoch. Burial will follow with military honors accorded by Red Rose Veterans Honor Guard and Vet 21 Salute Honor Guard in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Adamstown, PA. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations in Gene's memory to either Peace UCC, 37 E. Swartzville Rd., Denver, PA 17577 or the Keystone Trails Association, 46 E. Main St., Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Funeral Service 09/16/2017 11:00 AM Good Funeral Home & Cremation Centre 34-38 North Reamstown Road Reamstown PA Viewing 09/16/2017 10:00 AM Good Funeral Home & Cremation Centre 34-38 North Reamstown Road Reamstown PA