Gene Veith

Gene Veith was born on May 31, 1925, on a farm west of Tonkawa, Oklahoma, the child of Charles and Edna Veith. He passed away on May 27, 2013. Gene graduated from Tonkawa High School. He was a World War II veteran, serving in the occupation forces at the 250th Battalion Hospital in Regensberg, Germany. After receiving an honorable discharge, he enrolled at Oklahoma State University and majored in Agriculture. This is where he met Joyce Sutton, whom he married on June 4, 1950. Gene graduated in 1950 and started working in the Agricultural Stabilization Service, United States Department of Agriculture. He worked in Woods County and Harper County. In 1955 he came to Craig County where he served until he retired in 1983. He has always been active in church. He was baptized when he was 9 at the First Christian Church in Tonkawa. He was an elder for over 50 years in the Vinita Christian Church. He was most recently a member of the United Methodist Church and was a faithful member of the choir. Gene was very active in the community. He was a member of numerous civic organizations including the Vinita Lions Club, where he served as president. He served a 9 year term as the director of the Red Cross. He has been an active member of the National Association of Federal Employees, serving as president for several terms. Since he retired, he was a director of the Craig County Conservation District for 10 years. He was a member of the Craig County Excise Board for 10 years. Gene was very proud of the ASC office. In 1969 his was selected as the best ASC office in the South Central Area, which includes Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. An award banquet was sponsored by the Vinita Chamber of Commerce and the four banks in Craig County. Guests were present from the state and Washington offices. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, one infant son, a brother, and two sisters. He is survived by his wife Joyce of 63 years; a son Gene Edward Veith, Jr., and wife Jackie, of Purcellville, Virginia; Jimmy Veith and wife Laura of Ardmore, Oklahoma; and daughter, Mary Smith of Vinita. He has two grandsons, Paul Veith, Madison Wisconsin, and Wyatt Smith, Vinita; 3 granddaughters, Joanna Hensley (Adam) of Irvine, California; Mary Moerbe (Ned) of Blackwell, Oklahoma; and Lindsay Smith (Justin) of Houston, Texas; and 8 great grandchildren. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m., Thursday, May 30, 2013, at Luginbuel Funeral Home. Funeral Services will be held in the United Methodist Church of Vinita at 11:00 a.m., Friday, May 31, 2013 with Rev. Sonja Tobey officiating. Interment will follow at Fairview Cemetery. Services are under the direction of Luginbuel Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.honoringmemories.com

Visitation Details

Thursday, May 30th, 2013 5:00pm - 7:00pm, Luginbuel Funeral Home Vinita

Service Details

Friday, May 31st, 2013 11:00am, First United Methodist Church - Vinita

Interment Details

Fairview Cemetery - Vinita