Eugene Ronald Pal

On May 14, 2016, Eugene Ronald Pal, 84, of Leawood, KS, passed away unexpectedly yet peacefully in his sleep.

Gene was born in New York City on July 12, 1931, to Dave & Margaret Pal. He grew up in the Bronx and was selected to attend the Bronx High School of Science, then attended the University of Connecticut earning an engineering degree. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Air Force, he was stationed at Mitchell AFB on Long Island New York. While at Loring AFB in Northern Maine, Gene met the love of his life, a fiery French Canadian, Marie Laure Dionne. They married in 1955.

Over the next 20 years, Gene was stationed in the Philippines, California, Ohio, Greenland, Illinois and Missouri. He was one of the first true rocket scientists, working on the Titan missile. He was selected to attend the Air Force Institute of Technology and earned a Masters in Aerospace Engineering. After 20 years of service, Gene retired as a Major from the Air Force in 1974. Gene then worked 30 years as a civilian at Fort Leavenworth for TRADOC Analysis Center as a communications engineer designing and launching war game systems which were first used in Kuwait. Upon retiring, he received the coveted Excellence in Analysis Award.

Gene had three main loves: God, family and country. He was a devout and active Catholic. He spent countless hours with his children and grandchildren teaching, coaching and creating. A devoted husband, Gene unfailingly supported and shared all of his wife’s interests. Gene loved to travel and was never happier than in Oahu with a lei around his neck, or on a road trip.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved granddaughter Céline Lucie Aziz. and stepbrother Frank Secret. Gene is survived by his wife, Marie Pal; brother Ronald Pal of Sutton, VT; three children: Eugene R. Pal Jr. of KCMO, Jacqueline Marie Pal of Westchester, CA, and Michelle Laure Pal (Anthony Albracht) of Mission Hills; 5 grandchildren: Cameron & Christopher Aziz of Los Angeles; Anne-Marie Albracht of New York City and Alex & Ava Albracht of Mission Hills: and Stepsister Terri Boos of Virginia.

Visitation with rosary and shared reflection will be Wednesday, May18 5:30-7pm at McGilley, 12301 State Line Rd. KCMO. Funeral Mass is 10am Thursday, May 19 at Church of the Nativity, 3800 W 119 St, Leawood, KS. Interment will be at Leavenworth National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Catholic Charities are most appreciated (www.catholiccharitiesks.org) Assistance by Funeral Advocates, LLC. For full tribute see www.mcgilleystatelinechapel.com. Arrangements, McGilley State Line Chapel, 12301 State Line Road, Kansas City, MO 64145, (816) 942-6180.