Gene E. Lotgering

1930 - 2012

Gene E. Lotgering, 81

Born in Portland, Oregon on December 23, 1930. Moved to California with his single Mother at age nine. Graduated from Narbonne High School, Lomita, California in 1949. Attended the University of Southern California and UCLA. Married Ruth Doris in 1950 and had two children, one daughter and one son. He and his wife were divorced in 1957. He studied to be an architect but prior to graduating was employed by A.J. Byer Company working on architectural design of hotels and residential housing.

In 1951 was employed at North American Aviation (which later became Rockwell Corporation) as a Tool Designer which started a long and successful career in the aerospace industry. He married Phyllis Chase in 1962; subsequently had two children, one son and one daughter. He moved into Research and Development and Manufacturing Design Engineering, working on such programs as the Sabreliner, F-86, F-100, X-107, X-15, XB-70 and the Apollo Program. He and his wife Phyllis succinctly owned and operated an electronic circuit board business for a period of five years. He took a leave of absence from Rockwell Corporation and became Vice-President of Empire Management Corporation an executive search and consulting firm for two years.

He returned to Rockwell as a member of management on the Space Shuttle Program where his responsibilities were Thermal Control and the design of the numerical control tiles. He did quite a lot of public relations work for Rockwell as well, with interviews regarding the space shuttle on television from time to time. He was President of the local National Management Club and Secretary of the five chapter division of the National Management Club of North American Rockwell Corporation. He retired from Rockwell after 40 years in June of 1990.

Upon retirement he moved to Cottonwood, Arizona and became involved with the hobby of designing, building and flying radio controlled airplanes which he enjoyed immensely. He later moved to Anthem, Arizona for a brief period then on to Mountain Home, Arkansas in 2002. He continued his hobby of designing airplanes and homes on the computer.

Gene passed away March 13, 2012, at Mountain Home, Arkansas at the age of 81.

He was preceded in death by his Mother, Grace Mouser in 1971, his son, Arnold in 1963 and daughter, Susan in 1990. He is survived by his loving wife and partner, Phyllis of the home, his son, David Lotgering and his wife, Linda of North Charleston, South Carolina and daughter, Nancy Lee and her husband, Edward of Collinsville, Oklahoma. He leaves three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Services will be private.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Ozarks Hospice House.

Arrangements are by Kirby & Family Funeral and Cremation Services. Visit an online obituary and guestbook at www.kirbyandfamily.com.