The funeral for Verdner E. "Gene" Bacon, 85, of Woodward will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at Billings Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Jeff Swigart and Jerry Brinkman will officiate. Burial will follow in Haskew Cemetery with the Air Force providing full military graveside honors.
He was born May 9, 1920, in Haskew to Myrtle Oringderff and William Bacon and died Saturday, Oct. 22, 2005, at Wichita, Kan.
He served 20 years in the Air Force. During World War II he was a radio operator and gunner on B-17's.
He married Liberty Jestes in Salina, Kan. in 1946. They traveled extensively in the United States, Alaska and Morocco in North Africa. He retired at Grand Forks Air Force Base in August 1963. They moved to Wichita where he was employed with Beechcraft, then moved to Andover where he retired after 13 years. They moved to Woodward in 1980, and he worked for NL Acme Tools and Pat McVicker.
Surviving are his wife, Liberty "Dee" Jestes Bacon of the home; four daughters, Vernetta Rittenhouse of Elk City, Sherry Smith of Galva, Kan., Linda Crosley of Harrisonville, Mo., and Doris Beeney of Winfield, Kan.; one son, Larry Bacon of Wichita; eight grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by two brothers, four sisters, and two grandsons.
Memorials may be made through the funeral home to Woodward Bible Baptist Church carpeting fund.
Condolences may be sent online to www.billingsfuneralhomewoodward.com.