EUGENE WITTNER
08/26/1929 - 02/09/2023
Surrounded by love, Gene Wittner passed away at age 93 on February 9, 2023, with his wife Bobbi by his side. He fought a long and difficult battle with courage, and was peaceful at the end. Gene was born on August 26, 1929, in Brooklyn, New York, to Florence (Berent) Wittner and Samuel Wittner. Gene graduated from Brooklyn College and then served in the Marine Corps during the Korean War from 1951-1953. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Organic Chemistry from Columbia University and began working for Shell Oil Company as a Research Chemist. While in Woodbridge, New Jersey with Shell, Gene met and then married Geraldine (Gerry) Elizabeth Bowen in 1955. His career with Shell took Gene and Gerry from Woodbridge to
St. Louis, the Netherlands, Houston, New Orleans and back again to Houston, during which time Gene and Gerry raised two daughters. Gerry passed away suddenly in 1989, after which Gene met Bobbi and they married in 1990.
Gene and Bobbi enjoyed traveling and spending time with their wonderful, combined children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Gene’s favorite hobbies included growing prize orchids and working on his computer. He was often busy writing complicated computer programs well into his 80’s. Described by his daughter Marsha as “the smartest man I’ve ever known”, Gene could discuss all kinds of complicated subjects and remember (and articulate) volumes of information he had absorbed over the years. He was a kind and warm person, and was loved by many.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents Sam and Florence Wittner and his eldest daughter Audrey Lahmeyer. Gene is survived by his wife of 33 years, Bobbi Wittner; his daughter Marsha (David) Teller; Stepsons Randy (Kris), Terry (JoAnn), and Brian (Shannon) Taler; grandchildren, Brandon (Kristen) Teller, Morgan (Steven) Flack and Lauren (Henry) Holland; Joseph, Peter (Jessica), Benjamin Sanguinet, Marissa (Ray Kutch), Jennifer (Mike Stoll) Taler, Candice (Brian) Cote, Preston Taler and sisters Sandra Leitner and Andrea (Sy) Matusow.
The family would like to thank Houston Hospice, and especially Christy, for their wonderful care. A special thank you to Delia, our angel who relentlessly cared for both Gene and Bobbi, and to whom we will be forever grateful.
A funeral service will be held in the chapel at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden, 1101 Antoine Dr., Houston, Texas 77055, on Monday, February 13 at 2:30pm. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the charity of your choice.