Eugene M. Laubach

Born to William and Inez (Neimeyer) Laubach on October 30, 1925 in Little Rock, AR

Upon graduating from high school, Gene was inducted into the United States Army in January 1944, at the height of World War II. While in the army, he certified as a Marksman and served in the Asia Pacific campaign in China and Burma as a Communications Installer Repairman, returning home in May 1946 after the end of the war. His military Decoration & Citations included the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon with two bronze stars, Good Conduct Award, Meritorious Unit Award, Victory Ribbon, and two Overseas Service Bars.

Upon his discharge from the army in June 1946, Gene entered the University of Missouri at Columbia to study engineering. He took a one-year hiatus to work in the western oil fields, and recalled the difficult working conditions and bitter low temperatures he encountered there. Upon his return, he completed his degree in Electrical Engineering in the spring of 1952.

He began his career with Bailey Meter Company in Cleveland shortly thereafter and remained with the company until his retirement in July 1989. During his 37 years at Bailey, he traveled extensively in the United States as well as to Israel, Japan, Taiwan, and various countries throughout Europe, working with electric utilities to design, manufacture and install Bailey powerplant control equipment.

Among his achievements at Bailey was his involvement in installing nuclear reactor controls for the United States Navy’s and the world’s first nuclear propelled submarines, the USS Nautilus and USS Seawolf, which were built and outfitted in New London, CT. While there, Gene had the rare opportunity for a civilian of being able to sail on a Navy nuclear sub while participating in a test voyage.

Gene’s work required extensive and lengthy trips to Israel where Bailey was assisting the government in determining locations for future power plant construction sites. He was also responsible for training Israelis on the operation of the power plant control systems.

After Gene and Joyce both retired in the early 1990’s, they traveled extensively. Trips abroad included Alpine countries of Europe, Amsterdam, Germany, Israel. One of their favorite trips in 1999 was to China where Gene fought in World War II and they viewed the billet where Gene lived while serving in China. Within the United States, they visited many National Parks, Alaska, Florida and its many islands, California and many trips to Seattle, Washington where their son, Frank, resided.

In 2019, Gene was selected by Honor Flight Cleveland and flown from Cleveland Hopkins International airport to Washington, D.C. It is the mission of Honor Flight Cleveland to pay tribute to veterans who served our country by providing them a safe and memorable all-expense paid trip to Washington D.C. to visit the recently completed memorials honoring their service in World War II. Gene stated it was a great honor and he was very emotional about the experience and how he and the other veterans were honored.

For more than 20 years Gene volunteered at Lake Hospital System, at the former Lake East Hospital in Painesville and at Tri-Point Medical Center in Concord Township in the transport department where he transported patients from their hospital room to other locations within the hospital.

He also volunteered as a trustee at Hope Ridge United Methodist Church in Concord Township and was a dedicated choir member where he attended for 57 years.

Gene is survived by his wife, Joyce (Root) of Hamden, CT to whom he was married for 67 years. They have three children, Frank, (who passed away in 2012), Sue (Philip) Treide of Uxbridge MA, and Kathy (Gary) Nye of Stoughton, MA. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Alex (Brianna) Treide, Rachel Treide, Jenny Nye and Conner Nye.

A memorial service will be held at Hope Ridge United Methodist Church, 9870 Johnnycake Ridge Road, Concord Township, OH on Saturday, October 29 at 11:30 A.M. The family will receive friends prior to the service, beginning at 11:00 A.M.