Harold Gene Stanley

Harold Gene Stanley, 87, longtime El Pasoan, decorated Army veteran, husband and father, passed away Monday, 6 February 2012 at the Texas State Veterans Home in El Paso, TX. Gene was born 3 November 1924 in Minneapolis, MN. He married the love of his life, Claire Ann Caouette, on 1 June 1944 in Columbia, SC, when they embarked on the adventure of their life. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corps that same year as a bombardier aboard B-25s in Europe and North Africa. In 1950 he was stationed in Korea and Japan, returning to MN in 1954. In 1957, he was stationed at Fort Bliss. He served a final tour of duty in Korea in 1966, and retired from the Army in 1968, when he accepted a job with New Mexico State University working in the Physical Science Laboratory department's sounding rocket division at White Sands Missile Range. His work took him from Fort Churchill, Canada to the Woomera Rocket Range in Australia in his 17 years at PSL. After retirement, Gene spent considerable time volunteering in a wide variety of worthy causes across El Paso, including Knights of Columbus, City-County Health District water project, Showtime El Paso, Crisis Center, NAUS, and the Ft Bliss Museum and Study Center. He is survived by his wife of 67 years; their six children: Timothy, Teresa, Michael, Lynda, Rita and Christopher. He was preceded in death by a son, Richard. Gene has six grandchildren: Christie, Marcie, Brian, Laurel, Daniel, and Allison. He also has six great grandchildren: Logan, Reese, Bella, Jade, Kasey, and Maddie Sue. Gene will be missed by his family and large circle of friends. Visitation will be held from 6:00pm-9:00pm with a Vigil Service at 7:00pm on Thursday, 9 February, 2012 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Funeral Mass will be at 9:30am Friday, 10 February 2012 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church. Interment will follow at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery with Full Military Honors. Please visit online register book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net