Eugene Howard Keebaugh

Eugene Howard Keebaugh

Jan. 11, 1932- Jan. 4, 2024

Eugene Howard Keebaugh, 91, of Odessa, Wash., died Jan. 4, at Odessa Memorial Health Center. Born Jan. 11, 1932, in Kansas City, Kansas, Gene was raised in Newport, Neb., by his cherished grandmother, Anna Keebaugh, and surrounded by 11 aunts and uncles.

Gene spent summers bucking hay and hauling it to Iowa and South Dakota, and worked for a time on a surveying crew before joining the Navy to see the world. He spent 24 years serving his country, including time in Korea during the Korean Conflict. He loved being aboard ship, and served as a storekeeper aboard the destroyer USS Gregory, destroyer USS Decatur, fuel tanker USS Rio Grande, sub tender USS Simon Lake, and destroyer USS Leahy. He excelled at shore duty assignments, which included the U.S. Pacific Fleet Polaris Material Office, where his work earned him the Navy Achievement Medal. Gene retired from the Navy as a Master Chief Petty Officer.

After retirement, Gene went to work for the Navy in civil service, ensuring civilian contractors met specifications on government projects. He retired for good after 20 more years serving his country.

While stationed in Seattle, he met Evagene Jones of Selah, Wash., at a USO dance, and they were married in 1955. They raised two children, William Howard Keebaugh (deceased) and Lynn Stetson of Tacoma, Wash. He had four grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Gene took up golf with a fervor after retirement, and was drawn to Odessa because of its golf course, where he had a number of good golfing buddies. While living in Bremerton; Kodiak, Alaska; and Pahrump, Nev., he was an avid bowler. He also loved to fish, and spent many happy winters traveling with Evagene in their motor home. They made Pahrump their winter home for several years until Evagene died in 2018. Gene went back one more winter, but said it wasn't the same without Evagene, to whom he was eternally devoted.

Gene was a dog-lover, and almost always had a furry best friend. After his beloved Tramp died in 2020, he pined for another dog, but sadly, that didn't happen. He will be greeted by a loving menagerie at the Rainbow Bridge.

His family wants to thank members of the fabulous staff at Odessa Memorial Health Center, who cared for Gene as he crossed the bar on his final voyage.

Friends and family can swap Gene stories and remember him at a gathering to take place in the spring. Details will be shared closer to the event.

Fair winds and following seas, Chief.