Eugene "Gene" Virgil Personett
September 27, 1937 — April 16, 2012
Eugene "Gene" Virgil Personett
Rev. Eugene "Gene" Virgil Personett, 74, Logansport, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 6:23 p.m. at St. Joseph Hospital, Kokomo surrounded by his loving family and friends.
Gene was born on September 27, 1937 in Mishawaka, Indiana, the son of Virgil S. and Verna Pearl Gustin Personett. He graduated from South Bend John Adams High School in 1956 and attended Franklin College. Gene later obtained a B.S. Degree from Indiana University and a Masters Degree from Trinity Theological Seminary. He was ordained a minister in 1957.
Gene was married to Mary V. Knox on November 5, 1957 in South Bend. Their union brought four children: Dale W., Nola D., Stacey L., and Wendy S. They were married until 1980.
On April 27, 1991 in Versailles, Indiana, Gene was married to Mary M. Keller Large and his family grew to include her three children: Duane J., Deborah S., and Diane M. Together, Gene and Mary celebrated nearly twenty-one years of marriage.
Through the years, Gene served as Pastor at several churches in Indiana and Georgia. His last pastoral assignments were at Perrysburg Baptist Church and Chili Baptist Church. He was also involved in the probation field and had served as a probation officer in several Indiana counties. Gene served as Chaplain at Tyson Foods in Logansport for a few years and operated the Interventions Counseling Center in Logansport for ten years.
Gene is survived by his wife Mary; two sons, Dale Personett, Sellersburg, Indiana and Duane Large, Logansport; five daughters, Nola Hines, Fulton; Debbie Bell and husband Phil, Kokomo; Stacey Kesler and husband Blake, Kewanna; Diane Pendley and husband Tony, Syracuse, Utah; and Wendy Sutton and husband Steve, Kewanna.
He is also survived by thirteen grandchildren, Robert Personett, serving with the US Army in Afghanistan; Bo Hines, Fulton; Faith Brown and husband Ted, Kewanna; Lyndy Szmara, and husband Zach, Marion; Zek Kesler, Kewanna; Jake Kiss, Kewanna; Luke and Tanner Sutton, Kewanna; Caitin Pendley and wife Candace, Ogden, Utah; Marissa Frederick and husband Aaron, Ewa Beach, Hawaii; Tristan Pendley, Syracuse, Utah; Mollie Bell, Kokomo; and James Bell, Kokomo; seven great-grandchildren, Lilly and Ava Hines, Chloe and Barrett Brown, Isaac Szmara, and Jayden and Brookelynn Frederick; two sisters, Rosemary Hudson, South Bend and Dorothy Peoples, Renton, Washington; as well as many sisters-and brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers-in-law, Jacque C. Hudson, and James Peoples.
Gene was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and a friend to many. He thoroughly enjoyed the time spent with his family. Gene was a man who lived his faith every day. He will be truly missed by those who loved him.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, April 20, 2012 at McClain Funeral Home, Denver with Pastor Glenn McLay officiating. Burial will follow in St. Anne's Cemetery, Monterey.
Visitation will be Thursday from 3-8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.
The online guestbook can be signed at www.mcclainfh.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Relay for Life or Guardian Angel Foundation.