Gene Tye

Gene Tye of Endwell, NY passed away peacefully on March 16th at the age of 97. Born in Oklahoma City in 1927, the son of the late Henry Franklin and Omah Faye Tye, Gene grew up on a small family farm in Oklahoma during the historic Great Depression. Upon graduating from high school as Valedictorian, he served in World War Two as a Navy radioman with the Pacific Fleet. After the war Gene graduated Tulane University Summa Cum Laude with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He later earned a Master’s Degree in Engineering from Syracuse University. Gene worked for 40 years at General Electric in Johnson City, NY, becoming an internationally recognized expert in aircraft fire control systems. His designs resulted in numerous patents, some of which remain state of the art and are currently still in service on U.S. and NATO nations’ fighter aircraft. Gene loved to be active and was an avid golfer, tennis player, skier, hiker, and gardener. He learned to downhill ski only after retiring and continued skiing into his 80's. However, most important to Gene was his family and faith. He was a devoted and involved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather. Throughout his life, Gene was also a steadfast son and brother to his parents and siblings and was a devoted parishioner of Holy Family Roman Catholic Church, volunteering for many years with the Holy Name Society. Gene was predeceased by Lucille, his treasured wife of 53 years, and by six of his seven siblings: Margaret, Lillie, Laura, Ida, Myra, and Henry F. Tye Jr. He is survived by his beloved family: sister Clara Ann Johnson, children Edward (Sarah) Tye, Kevin (Karen) Tye, David (Patricia) Tye, Maureen (James) Gonzalez, 12 grandchildren: Julia (Thomas), Chelsea, Katherine, Amy, Michael, Matthew (Vivienne), Alyssa, Corey, Brian, Aaron (Cindy), Ethan (Samantha), Ellen, and three great-granddaughters. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 am, Monday, March 24 at Church Of The Holy Family 3600 Phyllis Street, Endwell. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City, at the convenience of the family. The family will receive friends, Sunday, March 23, from 2-4 pm, at the Allen Memorial Home, 511–5 13 East Main Street, Endicott. In lieu of flowers, donations in Gene’s memory may be made to Birthright of Binghamton, 609 E Main Street, Endicott NY, 13760