Gene Delmar Van Meter, a proud veteran of the Navy and Air Force, husband, father, and great grandfather, passed away Friday, December 22, 2023, of natural causes.

The son of Charles Wilbur Van Meter and Virginia Jones Whittier was born in Marion, Ohio in 1932. Gene was born on a farm in Marion and later moved with his family to Newark, Ohio in 1938. His education began in Marion and continued in Newark, graduating from Newark High School in 1951. He furthered his education at Texas A & M University Kingsville and Alamo Community College in Austin, Texas.

Gene enlisted in the United States Navy completing basic training at the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California and continued to the Naval Air Station at Point Magu, California. He was next reassigned duty to the Naval Air Station in Kingsville, Texas as a young ''Airedale'' aircraft mechanic. After four years in the Navy, Gene was honorably discharged as a Second-Class Petty Officer. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal during this time. He then re-enlisted in the United States Air Force at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He was first assigned an Aircraft Mechanic and Crew Chief on a C-47 out of Rhein-Main Air Base near Frankfurt, Germany. In those years, he was a member of a C-47 crew that flew the American Berlin corridor.

Upon returning stateside, he attended Officer's Candidate School (OCS) at Lackland AFB, graduating in March of 1959. Gene received his wings in 1960. He served at Strategic Air Command (SAC) as a Co-pilot on a B-47 bomber, out of Lincoln, Nebraska. At the completion in SAC, Gene was awarded the Combat Readiness Medal. Gene left SAC to become an Instructor Pilot and Check Pilot for the T-37 at Williams AFB in Phoenix, Arizona. He received the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service as an Instructor Pilot for the 3525th Pilot Training Squadron. He was voted Instructor Pilot of the Year by the students of the class of 70-02. After much consideration, Gene transferred to Tactical Air Training Command and began training on the Douglas A-1E and A-1H Skyraiders at Hurlburt AFB. After Hurlburt, he reported to Nakhon Phanom, Thailand, (NKP) in 1969 and entered the ''silent war'' from Thailand including as a ''Zorro'' flying night missions. He also flew as a ''Sandy.'' Gene was awarded the prestigious Distinguished Flying Cross for Extraordinary Achievement and The Air Medal and eight oak leaf clusters. Upon completion of his SE Asia tour, Gene was transferred back to Air Training Command in the states to become Chief Test Pilot at Laughlin AFB in Del Rio, Texas. After 20 years in military service, Gene retired from the Air Force at the rank of Major.

Gene met and married Carol Ann Schauer while serving as an ''Airedale'' in the Navy at Kingsville, Texas. Gene was interested in becoming a pilot, and after their marriage Gene re-enlisted in the Air Force. They had four children during Gene's career in the Air Force. Steven, born in San Antonio; Mark in Germany; Debbie in San Antonio; and David in Nebraska. Over the years, Gene's family enjoyed hunting and fishing including Phoenix area lakes and Lake Amistad near Del Rio and enjoyed vacations at the Texas Coast. Carol was always the perfect military wife as she had been raised as a military kid. In 1976, after 21 years of marriage, Carol tragically passed away from heart failure.

Gene began working for Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPW) in 1973. He spent 17 years as a pilot, Game Warden pilot, Park Superintendent, Supervisor of the Park Peace Officers, and Chief Pilot. After Carol's passing, Gene accepted a position as Superintendent at Lost Maples State Natural Area. In late 1977, Gene married Eva Joyce (nee Boyer) Constant. A welcomed family member, Joyce joined Gene and family at Lost Maples near Utopia, Texas and later Austin, Buda, Kerrville and Ingram, Texas. Gene and Joyce both worked for Texas Parks and Wildlife at the same time for many years. After they retired from TPW, they moved from Buda to Kerrville and in 1996 built their home in Ingram. Gene and Joyce were married for 28 years before her untimely death to cancer in 2005. Gene continued to live in the home they had made in Ingram.

In 2009, Gene met and married Peggy Ann (nee O'Brien) Snyder from Celina, Texas. They were married over 14 years and had many great adventures traveling in a motorhome throughout the country, boating, fishing and celebrating parties and milestones with family and friends over the years. They were grateful for finding each other during this time in their lives. They made their home in Ingram.

Gene is survived by his wife, Peggy; his sisters, Joan Marciel of Livermore, California and Judy Gregory of Lancaster, Ohio; his four children, Steven Van Meter of Harper, Texas, Mark Van Meter (Esther) of Wasilla, Alaska, Debra McGee of Tuscola, Texas, and David Van Meter of Utopia, Texas. His grandchildren include Jennifer Van Meter of Austin, Texas, Austin McGee (Bailey) of Fort Worth, Texas, Skye Lynn Richey (Tony) of Utopia, Texas, Brenden McGee of Tuscola, Texas, Justin Van Meter of Bulverde, Texas, Carol Ann Van Meter of Houston, Texas, Alex Van Meter (Katie) of Wasilla, Alaska, Jeska Van Meter of Huntsville, Alabama, Aaron Van Meter of Wasilla, Alaska, Michelle Simon of Center Point, Texas, and Stephanie Gray (Adrian) of Okinawa, Japan. He also had nineteen great-grandchildren at the time of his passing.

A memorial service honoring the life of Gene Van Meter will be held at 2 PM, Monday, January 15, 2024 at Grimes Funeral Chapels.

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