Robert "Gene" Eugene Harrison

Gene was born December 30, 1930 in Michigan City, Indiana to Winona and Jim Harrison. Gene is the youngest of three siblings. As a young family, they followed wherever jobs would take them, including to Parker Dam, Arizona, then to Fort Peck Dam, Montana. When WWII started, they moved to Beaverton to work in the Oregon shipyards. After the war, they moved to Eugene, Oregon where Grandpa spent the rest of his working career at EWEB and the kids finished high school.

Gene attended U of O for one year, then in 1951 he joined the Air Force, served 4 years, three of that in England. Upon his return home to Eugene from military service in 1955, Gene settled into civilian life. Gene and Nancy (Fisher) met and were married on May 20, 1956 in Portland.

They started their marriage working at KPIC in Roseburg. In 1958, they moved to Salem to start work at KBZY. Mom and Dad spent the rest of their lives working and raising Bob and Le Anne. Gene was a member of the Rotary Club and was active in other civic activities, as well as being a Regent for the Boys and Girls Aid Society of Oregon. He managed KBZY from 1958 to 1975. He went on to become Vice President of marketing for First Federal Savings Bank until 1982 when he retired.

During retired life, Gene and Nancy liked to travel to the beach and Disneyland with the grandkids. They gave their family an excellent life. Gene passed away peacefully and painlessly surrounded by his family. He is survived by son and daughter, Bob and Le Anne, four grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren. Gene is flying with the angels. Fly with the angels, Dad, Fly!

Donations are suggested to either Boy and Girls Aid Society in Oregon or Salem Art Association.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Virgil T. Golden Funeral Service, 605 Commercial St. SE, Salem, on Tuesday, February 10th, 2026 at 1:00pm.