Gene Maurece Harper

Gene was born in San Bernardino on April 7, 1923. He was the only child of Lester Maurice Harper and Mary Winifred Litts Harper. Gene grew up in Ontario and graduated from Chaffey High School in 1941.

Gene enrolled in Chaffey Junior College, just months before the attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 7, 1941. After completing Chaffey Junior College, Gene received orders from the U.S. Navy in June 1943.

He attended V-7 training at the University of Redlands in California and Columbia University Midshipman's School in New York. He graduated as an Ensign in August 1944.

Gene served aboard Landing Ship Tank (LST) 952 during World War II. On April 1, 1945, his LST was responsible for sending the first Marines onto Okinawa. Gene became a Lieutenant Junior Grade officer during his naval service.

After the war, Gene received his bachelor's degree at Colorado A&M. He returned to Ontario and worked for the County of San Bernardino as an Entomologist and retired as the Assistant Commissioner of Agriculture. He also earned his Master’s degree from USC.

In September 1954, Gene saw pictures in the Daily Report of the new elementary school teachers in the area. He decided he wanted to meet Ndala Grace Hall, the one with the great smile. Dad’s charm won Ndala over and they were married on July 10, 1955.

Gene’s positive attitude, his sense of humor, his love for his family, learning, painting, puzzles, avocados, Ovaltine, and ice cream, are just some of the many reasons he enjoyed such a long and healthy life and lived to be 101.

Gene is survived by his loving wife Ndala, daughters Jacqueline Tobias (Timothy), Kimberly Humphrey (Mark), Candace Wheeler (Scott), grandchildren Curtis Humphrey (Jennifer), Elizabeth Kuligowski (Bob), Benjamin Humphrey (Meaghan), Jessica Bryan (Wesley), Cameron Wheeler, Marie Tobias, and 9 great grandsons.

A memorial service will be held on January 8th at Draper Mortuary, 811 N Mountain Ave., Ontario at 11:30 AM, followed by a fellowship lunch. A private interment will be held at Bellevue Memorial Cemetery.

In honor of Gene please consider making a donation to the American Legion Post 112 (1400 South Vineyard Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761), which Gene has been a member of since 1946.