Gene L. King, 82, of North Manchester, Indiana, passed away at 3:02 a.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026, at Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He was born on August 15, 1944, in Wabash, Indiana, to Charles Frank and Hester Louise (Eakin) King.
“Geno” graduated from Noble High School in 1962 and proudly served in the United States Army, attaining the rank of E-5 Sergeant. On September 17,1993, he married Bertha J. “Bert” Fordyce in Glasgow, Kentucky.
Gene’s legacy is built on the unwavering foundation of the Golden Rule and his own brand of genuine charismatic whit, guiding a long career beginning at Wabash County REMC in 1964 as a Groundsman and advancing to Journeyman Lineman. He earned the opportunity to become an Instructor with Indiana Statewide’s Training & Safety Department in 1981. He then was recruited by Brownstown Electric Supply in 1983 where he retired 25 years later with commendations and forever remembered as “One hell of a Salesman”.
He frequently and quietly poured his kindness into the community. He maintained active memberships at Woodlawn United Methodist Church in Somerset and the Wabash American Legion Post 15. Alongside his passions for family, charity, fishing, golfing, and fast-pitch softball, a couple of his most cherished memories was his first date with Bert and serving as an assistant coach for the 1986 Wabash High School baseball state championship team.
Grounded in the strong family values of his humble beginnings, he never forgot the home with dirt floors that his family proudly called their own. Those early hardships influenced all forms of his grit and goodwill. Gene had an old west sense of justice, matched only by a giant heart that never met a stranger; he built a family far beyond his own, defined not by birth, but by loyalty and respect. Through his guidance, both professionally and personally, he was the rock against which many of us broke ourselves to become better, and the anchor that held us firm once we did. Borrowing from the story he loved: Underneath the rocks are the words, and the words are his; the river of his life has forever merged with ours, and we are profoundly blessed to have waded in his waters.
Gene is survived by his wife, Bertha J. “Bert” King of North Manchester; and several nieces, nephews, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Sarah L. Wilkerson and brothers, Joesph L. King, Donald W. King, Robert L. King, and Douglas F. King.
Per Gene’s request, there will be no services.
Preferred memorial is Gene L. King and Bertha J. King Endowment for Secondary Career and Technical Education at the Community Foundation of Wabash County.
The memorial guest book for Gene may be signed at www.grandstaff-hentgen.com
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