Born on November 03, 1942 to Jim Poling and Dorothy Fay Scroggs in Hutchinson Kansas. Gene had a passion for music and learned to play the piano, guitar and flute. In addition to music, Gene’s interests included gardening, photography and the cinema, becoming a Hollywood movie aficionado.
Gene married Rachel Ruth from Salina, Kansas. Shortly after, he joined the US Army and after Basic Training in Oklahoma and Washington State, Gene was assigned as a student nurse at the Wesley Hospital School of Nursing in Wichita, Kansas.
Gene went on to become a Nurse Anesthetist and.was stationed at Camp Zama, Tokyo, Japan during the Vietnam conflict earning the rank of Captain. It was during this overseas tour of duty that Gene and Rachel decided to adopt a child and eventually adopted two Japanese toddler boys from local orphanages: Samuel and Benjamin Poling.
After being Honorably Discharged, the family first settled in Florence, Oregon and eventually made their way down the west coast to Riverside, California. Gene became a California Certified Nurse Anesthetist and joined the staff at Kaiser Foundation Hospital in Fontana, California and even did some teaching at Cal State University, Los Angeles. Gene and Rachel eventually parted ways but Gene dedicated himself to raising his two boys on his own after a severe motorcycle accident left him permanently disabled. Later, Gene was able to help raise his two grandchildren: Peter and Samantha Poling.
Preceded in death by his son, Benjamin Poling.
Survived by his former wife, Rachel Poling; Son and daughter-in-law, Sam and Sokha; Grandchildren, Peter and Samantha.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, services will be delayed at this time. Gene will be laid to rest at Miramar National Cemetery.
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