Eugene Arthur Reiber's Obituary
Born In Tacoma, WA May 30, 1930 to Anna and Frederick Reiber. He went to be with the Lord on the morning of September 1, 2014. Eugene (known to friends and family as Gene) graduated from Lincoln High School in 1948 and Pacific Lutheran College in 1952. While at PLC he played right field and first base for the Lute’s baseball team. He later earned a master’s degree in education from Oregon State University in 1964.
After college, he joined the US Army, achieving the rank of Sergeant in 1953. He served in the Army for 3 years as a Morse Code interceptor in Okinawa, Japan and continued his service as a member of the Army Reserve from 1955-1960. Gene taught for the Department of Defense Dependents Schools in Babenhausen and Augsburg Germany in the ‘50’s and ‘60’s. From 1967-1985, he taught 4th grade at Point Defiance Elementary School.
He is preceded in death by his parents Frederick and Anna Reiber and his first wife OraLee (Erickson) Reiber (deceased 1991.) Survivors of Eugene’s immediate family are daughters Kathy (Doug) Mitchell and Carol (Bob) Vogeler and 4 grandchildren; McKenna and Claire Mitchell, Paul and Sonya Vogeler, step-son Joseph Zambuto and wife Beverley Dallman. Gene will be dearly missed. He loved traveling, theater, music and discussions with his Elk sauna buddies and was proud to be of “Germans from Russia” heritage.
Graveside service will be held on Monday, September 15, 2014 at 11:30am. We will meet at 11:00 am in the Forest Room in the main building at Mountain View. Gene's Celebration of Life will be at 12:30pm in the Celebration of Life’s Oak Room. With the Tacoma Banjo Band performing at 12:30 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be designated to the Lincoln High Scholarship Fund. 307 S 37th Ave. Tacoma, WA 98418.
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