Eugene Leonard Farmer, 82, Sun City, Ariz.
Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 24, 2002
Eugene Leonard Farmer, age 82, of Sun City, Ariz., died Monday, April 15, 2002, at Cook Care Center of Youngtown, Ariz.
Masonic graveside committal service will be 10 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 28, at Graceland Cemetery. A Masonic service will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday August 27, at Bonnerup Funeral Service, Albert Lea.
Eugene Leonard Farmer, the son of Eugene L. Farmer and Lillian Mae (Lindquist) Farmer, was born on June 19, 1919, at Faribault. His family lived in Albert Lea and West Branch, Iowa. He attended and graduated from West Branch High School in 1937.
He joined the Army in May 1941 -June 1945, serving in World War II at Rome-Arno, Naples-Foggia, and Tunisian campaigns. He was awarded three Bronze Stars and the Good Conduct Medal.
In October 1941 he was united in marriage to Billie Sue McGee. She passed away in 1978.
He worked for the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad as a signal maintainer until his retirement in 1979.
He was later united in marriage to Mary Ruth (Stutters) Smith, formerly of Clarion, Iowa, in December 1980. They lived in Albert Lea until August 1987 when they moved to Sun City, Ariz.
He was a 60-year Mason, belonging to Western Star Lodge of Albert Lea, as well as Albert Lea Chapter, Southgate Council and Apollo Knights Templar. He was a member of Osman Shrine at St. Paul, and Halcyon Order of Easter Star of Albert Lea. He was also a member of St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church of Sun City, Ariz.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Ruth of Sun City Ariz.; daughter, Mary Patricia Newman and her husband Bert of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho; two grandchildren: Scott Spleiss and his wife Lori; and Samantha Spleiss of Moscow, Idaho; and two stepsons: Thomas Smith and his wife Cindy of Snohomish, Wash., and Steven Smith of W. Hollywood, Calif. He is also survived by five step great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his first wife, Sue; son, Michael; and his parents.