1921
Eugene
2017
Eugene Compton
November 29, 1921 — July 7, 2017
Eugene D. Compton, 95, husband of the late Orveta Rowland Compton, passed away peacefully on July 7, 2017, in the home they had shared with his daughter and son-in-law, Edra and Danny Green. Also present with him was his granddaughter, Kristen Holloway, and care-giver and family friend, Anya Eremenko.
Eugene was born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, on November 29, 1921. He was the 11th child of a large family of 12 children. The “Roaring 20’s” (not well-named for the experience of many) and The Great Depression of the subsequent decade were hard times for the family.
Orveta, sparkling Queen of Breckenridge High School in north Texas, brought Eugene a bright new life in true fairy tale style. She asked him to be her escort - as their first date - at the crowning event on Valentine’s Day, 1939. They were a royal match for life for 72 years of marriage. They moved to Baytown of the gulf coast area of Texas near Houston in 1940, where they lived for 55 years.
Eugene’s career centered in the booming petroleum and associated products industries. After working seven years at General Tire and Rubber Company, he was an Operations Foreman at Ethyl Corporation for over 30 years. He once told his son that his job was to keep the plant from blowing up! Eugene has always entertained his family with humor and story-telling.
As part of “The Greatest Generation” during WW II, both Eugene and Orveta left home to do defense work at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California in 1943. After Eugene entered the Navy, they moved to the naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a Radar Technician responsible to repair radar on airplanes on a demanding schedule so that they could return to combat areas as soon as possible. During his training, he attended a lecture by Albert Einstein.
After retiring from Ethyl Corporation in 1983, he enjoyed applying his talent for fixing anything by home service in his “Mr. Gene’s Company.” He loved golfing, deer hunting, fishing/shrimping, and taking his family for refreshing rides in the boat in nearby Trinity Bay. He also enjoyed music: leading singing at church, and playing his harmonica. Eugene and Orveta loved to travel together across the USA, including visits to see children and grandchildren.
In 1995, Eugene and Orveta made another big move, this time to build a new home and life with Edra and Danny in Kansas City, Missouri. He and Orveta continued their enjoyable activities, including longtime support of the Florida College Booster Club. Eugene served as an Elder of the Nashua Church of Christ from 1999-2003, when he resigned to begin full-time care for Orveta. His service as an Elder is an example of how he and Orveta always diligently worked to serve the congregations where they lived, and how serving God was the focus of their life.
Overall, Eugene succeeded in reaching his goal of helping build a strong, wonderful family, and will always be an inspirational example as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and Christian. Orveta suffered a stroke in 2001; Eugene cared for her for 12 years until she died in 2013. The family lovingly thanks Anya Eremenko for her years of care of Eugene and Orveta and service to our family. We also greatly thank Devin Harris for the time he devoted to sit and visit with Eugene, and assist with his care.
Eugene is survived by his family. Children: Daughter Edra Compton Green, husband Danny Green. Son Ronald Eugene Compton, wife Bonnie Compton. Grandchildren: Kristen Holloway, husband Phil Holloway. Matt Hubbard, wife Jennifer Hubbard. Michelle Compton Roman, husband Felipe Roman. Jonathan Compton, wife Ashley Compton. Timothy Compton, wife Katy Compton. Omair Akhtar, wife Christine Akhtar. Great Grandchildren: Bailey, Madeline, Bennett Holloway. Marilyn, Jack Hubbard. Nicolas, Joaquin, Sebastian Roman. Andrew Compton. Justus, Ana, Junia Akhtar.
On Friday morning, July 14, visitation will be at 9:00, then memorial, burial, and graveside military honors will follow at 10:00 at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery,
801 NW 108th Street, Kansas City, MO 64155.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Crossroads Hospice Memorial Fund, 9237 Ward Parkway Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64114.
Eugene was born in Sand Springs, Oklahoma, on November 29, 1921. He was the 11th child of a large family of 12 children. The “Roaring 20’s” (not well-named for the experience of many) and The Great Depression of the subsequent decade were hard times for the family.
Orveta, sparkling Queen of Breckenridge High School in north Texas, brought Eugene a bright new life in true fairy tale style. She asked him to be her escort - as their first date - at the crowning event on Valentine’s Day, 1939. They were a royal match for life for 72 years of marriage. They moved to Baytown of the gulf coast area of Texas near Houston in 1940, where they lived for 55 years.
Eugene’s career centered in the booming petroleum and associated products industries. After working seven years at General Tire and Rubber Company, he was an Operations Foreman at Ethyl Corporation for over 30 years. He once told his son that his job was to keep the plant from blowing up! Eugene has always entertained his family with humor and story-telling.
As part of “The Greatest Generation” during WW II, both Eugene and Orveta left home to do defense work at Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, California in 1943. After Eugene entered the Navy, they moved to the naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a Radar Technician responsible to repair radar on airplanes on a demanding schedule so that they could return to combat areas as soon as possible. During his training, he attended a lecture by Albert Einstein.
After retiring from Ethyl Corporation in 1983, he enjoyed applying his talent for fixing anything by home service in his “Mr. Gene’s Company.” He loved golfing, deer hunting, fishing/shrimping, and taking his family for refreshing rides in the boat in nearby Trinity Bay. He also enjoyed music: leading singing at church, and playing his harmonica. Eugene and Orveta loved to travel together across the USA, including visits to see children and grandchildren.
In 1995, Eugene and Orveta made another big move, this time to build a new home and life with Edra and Danny in Kansas City, Missouri. He and Orveta continued their enjoyable activities, including longtime support of the Florida College Booster Club. Eugene served as an Elder of the Nashua Church of Christ from 1999-2003, when he resigned to begin full-time care for Orveta. His service as an Elder is an example of how he and Orveta always diligently worked to serve the congregations where they lived, and how serving God was the focus of their life.
Overall, Eugene succeeded in reaching his goal of helping build a strong, wonderful family, and will always be an inspirational example as a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and Christian. Orveta suffered a stroke in 2001; Eugene cared for her for 12 years until she died in 2013. The family lovingly thanks Anya Eremenko for her years of care of Eugene and Orveta and service to our family. We also greatly thank Devin Harris for the time he devoted to sit and visit with Eugene, and assist with his care.
Eugene is survived by his family. Children: Daughter Edra Compton Green, husband Danny Green. Son Ronald Eugene Compton, wife Bonnie Compton. Grandchildren: Kristen Holloway, husband Phil Holloway. Matt Hubbard, wife Jennifer Hubbard. Michelle Compton Roman, husband Felipe Roman. Jonathan Compton, wife Ashley Compton. Timothy Compton, wife Katy Compton. Omair Akhtar, wife Christine Akhtar. Great Grandchildren: Bailey, Madeline, Bennett Holloway. Marilyn, Jack Hubbard. Nicolas, Joaquin, Sebastian Roman. Andrew Compton. Justus, Ana, Junia Akhtar.
On Friday morning, July 14, visitation will be at 9:00, then memorial, burial, and graveside military honors will follow at 10:00 at Terrace Park Funeral Home & Cemetery,
801 NW 108th Street, Kansas City, MO 64155.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Crossroads Hospice Memorial Fund, 9237 Ward Parkway Suite 300, Kansas City, MO 64114.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Eugene Compton, please visit our flower store.