Dennis E. "Homer" "Gene" Verner

Dennis E. “Homer” “Gene” Verner N.P. (Nice Person) passed away peacefully at his home on Galveston Island on October 19, 2012. Born in Greenville, South Carolina on June 16, 1928 to Ruth and John V. Verner Sr. Gene attended George Washington High School in Danville, Virginia before earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute in 1950. He married Jean Farley in Danville, Virginia in 1952. Gene served his country in the United States Air Force from 1951-54, earning the rank of Second Lieutenant. As a navigator-bombardier he saw active duty in the Korean War. He began his career with Anchor Fence Co. in Florida and transferred to Houston in 1958. Gene and Jean were founding members of Pines Presbyterian Church in Houston in 1960. He began working for Gibraltar Fence Co. in 1969, becoming President in 1978. Gibraltar was acquired by Merchants Metals, Inc, where he later became President until 1986. He then started Verco Enterprises, Inc. Gene was a respected leader in the chain link fence manufacturing industry and a member of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) throughout his career. He served as Chairman of the ASTM Committee on Fences and was elected a Fellow of the Society and received the ASTM Award of Merit in 1992. He was a Director of Texas Commerce Bank-Airline Bank in 1981. He formed FFF Inc. with his brother John Verner Jr. and was the developer of the Sandhill Shores subdivision on the West End of Galveston Island in the1990’s. He and Jean moved to Jamaica Beach, Galveston, in 1997 and he continued to work from his home office there. Homer loved to fish and devised a system to keep his favored bait of live shrimp on hand at all times. Day or night when the mood struck he could be up from the chair or bed with a hook in the water in less than two minutes. He lived his life as a role model for his children and grand children making the world a better place by being a nice person. Mr. Verner is survived by his loving wife, Jean Verner; sons and daughters-in-law, Farley & Peggy Verner, John Paden & Stacy Verner; daughter and son-in-law, Denise & Mike Beckwith; grandchildren, Natalie & Wendy Verner, Sarah Merrill, Jack Verner, Josh Verner, and Emma Beckwith; brother, John V. Verner M.D. and wife Sally, also many nieces and nephews who he also loved very much. Serving as Honorary Pallbearers are, Farley Verner, Paden Verner, John V. Verner M.D., Mike Beckwith, Rusty Curry, Walt Murray, Darrell Smith, Gary Maddox, and Jerry Williams. Funeral Services will be held on Wednesday October 24, 2012 at 1:00pm in the Pines Presbyterian Church 12751 Kimberly Lane, Houston, Texas 77024. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers the family request that you make a donation to the charity of your choice.