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Gene Edward Kitts
<p>Gene Kitts passed away peacefully in his home on Tuesday, September 15, 2020 at</p><p><br></p><p>the age of 90. He is preceded in death by his parents Clara and Vance Kitts, as well as</p><p><br></p><p>his brothers Bill, Jimmy, Roland, Otis, Alvin, Lloyd, Leonard, and his twin sister, and</p><p><br></p><p>fellow youngest sibling, June.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Gene is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 66 years, Peggy Kitts. He is also</p><p><br></p><p>survived by his sons and daughters-in-law Steve and Donna Kitts, Bruce and Cindy Kitts,</p><p><br></p><p>and his sisters-in-law Helen M. Kitts and Helen Kitts. One of his greatest joys was becoming</p><p><br></p><p>a grandfather to Colin Kitts, Chelsea Fries, Lindsey Phelps, and Scott Kitts, and later a</p><p><br></p><p>great-grandfather to Dresden, Owen, Emerson, and soon to arrive baby Shepard.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Gene was born to a large family living in a small farmhouse in Bland County. He later</p><p><br></p><p>enlisted in the U.S. Navy, in which he served proudly for 20 years as a Chief</p><p><br></p><p>Radioman and Cryptographer and earned a Bronze Star, National Defense Service</p><p><br></p><p>Medal, and an Antarctica Service Medal. When he got on the bus for basic training,</p><p><br></p><p>his mother simply told him, “Behave yourself.” As he travelled the world from Guam</p><p><br></p><p>to the Yangtze River, he mostly did. However, when he made it to the South Pole on</p><p><br></p><p>an icebreaker, he found a way to get a few bowlfuls of beer to some penguins. He</p><p><br></p><p>later went on to work for the Eaton Corporation, from which he retired after 16</p><p><br></p><p>years.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>Gene was a gentle man who loved his family and had a great affinity for animals, but</p><p><br></p><p>also a father who had no qualms about giving his two teenage sons a crew cut in the</p><p><br></p><p>front yard. He loved to bowl and golf, and he especially enjoyed going to Sunday</p><p><br></p><p>school classes at First Baptist Church of Roanoke. He had an amazing ability to play a</p><p><br></p><p>tune on just about any instrument after hearing it only once, especially when he was</p><p><br></p><p>with his music family: the Salem Senior Pickers. He was an avid oil and watercolor</p><p><br></p><p>painter that always gave away his work; mostly to family that treasures them as</p><p><br></p><p>heirlooms.</p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>The family will be holding a private graveside service, due to the pandemic. In lieu of</p><p><br></p><p>flowers, please make a donation in Gene’s name to the charity of your choice.</p><p><br></p><p>Online condolences may be sent to www.simpsonfuneral.com Arrangements by Simpson </p><p><br></p><p>Funeral Home & Crematory. 540-366-0707</p><p><br></p><p>.</p>February 3, 1930 - September 15, 202002/03/193009/15/2020
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Gene Edward Kitts
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