Howard Eugene "Gene" Jennings

Howard Eugene Jennings "Gene" June 27, 1928 ~ Feb. 22, 2009 Resident of Antioch Gene Jennings, 80, was born in Seminole, Oklahoma to L.L. and Katie Jennings. Gene passed away peacefully on February 22, 2009 surrounded by his loving family. Gene grew up in Bowlegs, Oklahoma and served in the first Marine Division, First Regiment in Okinawa, Japan in 1945. At the conclusion of WWII, he transferred to China, where he served as a personal bodyguard for Chiang Kai-Shek, escorting him to Nanking. He was honorably discharged in 1947 and became a member of the VFW. Upon returning to the USA, he met and married Verna Batesel in 1949. They resided together in Pittsburg, where they raised a family of three daughters: Marsha, Jeanie and Brenda. Gene was a pipefitter for Local Union 343 of Vacaville until he retired in 1989. After retirement, Gene and Verna moved to MacArthur, California, where they enjoyed a country life style. Gene and Verna returned to Antioch in 2007. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Verna Jennings, his three daughters: Marsha Osterberg, Jeanie Partain (Mike), Brenda Marquez Kuklok (Ben), six grandchildren: Tim Partain (Shawna), Lori Moreno (Juan), Leonard Marquez (Cecilia LaFleur), Todd Osterberg, Demetrio Marquez, and Elizabeth Osterberg, and five great-grandchildren and two great-grandsons on the way. Visitation is Tuesday, February 24, 2009 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., and funeral services will be Wednesday, February 25, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at the Pittsburg Funeral Chapel.