Gene R. Lindley

EATON — Gene R. Lindley, 87, of Eaton, passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at the Kettering Medical Center in Kettering.

He was born Jan.y 31, 1938, in Hagerstown, Indiana, to the late Nash and Edith (Waltz) Lindley. Gene was a 1955 graduate of Hagerstown High School and earned his Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture Economics from Purdue University in 1959, where he served as Army Cadet Commander and was a member of the Farmhouse Fraternity. He married Alice Smith on July 10, 1960. He served in the U.S. Army and National Guard from 1961 to 1968, earning the rank of First Lieutenant. He worked at Standard Oil, was the owner operator of the State Line Truck Stop from 1967 to 1991; and later owned and operated Preble County Ace Hardware from 1992 to 2001. He served as the chairman of the board for the National Association of Truck Stop Operators; he served as former President of the Eaton City School Board; he was a 50-year member of the Eaton Rotary Club; he served as the chairman of the Preble Republican Party where he served as the delegate for the State of Ohio during the 1988 Presidential Election; he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Eaton where he served as an Elder.

Gene was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He loved his God, his wife, his family, his community and his country; and was a friend to all and loved by many. Go Boilers!

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter-in-law Kim Lindley; sisters-in-law Annette Lindley, Martha Smith and Phyllis Zarse; and nephew Blake Lindley.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alice Lindley of Eaton; son Doug Lindley; daughter Susan Lindley Kerkhove; daughter Brenda (Gary) Padgett; son Matt (Liz) Lindley; grandchildren: Kate, Kelsey, Casey, Nash, Nick, Jack, Madeline, Abby, Sam and William; great-grandchildren: Rooney, Margot, Sylvie, Quinn and Theo; brother Jerry Lindley; brother-in-law Walter "Sonny" Smith Jr; numerous nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, May 21, from 10 a.m. until time of funeral service at noon at the First Presbyterian Church, 123 West Decatur Street, Eaton, with Pastor Annie Melick officiating. Burial will follow at Mound Hill Cemetery in Eaton.

Gard Funeral Home, Eaton is assisting with arrangements.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Eaton Rotary Club, 2 East Dayton Street, West Alexandria, OH 45381 (please write scholarship fund on memo line.)

Online condolences and other remembrances may be sent to the family by visiting www.gardfuneralhome.com.