Harley "Gene" E. Kress

Harley E. “Gene” Kress, age 91, of Bellefontaine, Ohio passed away at 4:50 A.M. Thursday, August 15, 2019 at his residence.

He was born in Logansville, Ohio August 21, 1927, to the late Harley and Mary (Van Meter) Kress.  On June 1, 1952, he married the love of his life, Barbara “Jene” (Miller) Kress and after sixty four years of marriage, she passed away June 8, 2016. Along with his parents and wife, Gene was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Tricia James.

Gene is survived by his daughter, Patricia Kress Wolfe of Bellefontaine and his son, Kim E. (Connie) Kress of Belle Center, Ohio; grandchildren, Trina Allison of New Albany, Ohio, Suzanne (Derek) Gillespie of Russells Point, Ohio and Connor Kress of Detroit, Michigan; great grandchildren, Logan Wolfe, Victoria Allison, Nicole Allison, Cassandra Allison, Jace Gillespie and another on the way; a sister, Patricia Palmer of St. Petersburg, Florida; a brother-in-law, Glen (Nancy Cozort) Miller of Jasper, Florida and numerous nieces and nephews.

Gene was a graduate of Bellefontaine High School and after graduation enlisted in United States Army Air Corp at the end of WWII. When the Army Air Corp split, Gene chose the Air Force and was stationed at Hickman Field in Honolulu, Hawaii for his eighteen month tour. Once he returned home, Gene began working at his uncle’s gas stations. With his uncle’s backing, Gene acquired a gas station at the corner of Columbus Avenue and Madriver Street in Bellefontaine where he successfully operated for the next forty two years.

Gene was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Bellefontaine and also a member of the Republican Party. He was a strong patriot who married the love of his life and started a wonderful family that is still growing today. All who knew and loved Gene will miss him.

Ashley Sloan of the Huntsville United Methodist Church will lead a private graveside service at a later date.

The arrangements are in the care of the staff of the Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Bellefontaine.

K.VH.