IN MEMORIAM
Honoring the First Anniversary of the Loss of
Our Dear Father
EUGENE J. SUTO
Colonel, U.S. Army (Retired), age 96, who passed away peacefully on October 4, 2018, in the arms of his loving daughters and devoted sons-in-law.
Gene was born at home in Windber, Pa., a small coal mining town, during the historical snow storm of January 28, 1922.
Gene had been a West Virginia property owner since 1964. He enjoyed overseeing his many tracts of land in Magnolia, Posey Hollow and Hedgesville. Gene loved breathing the fresh mountain air and also “relaxing” as he worked on his many houses through the years. Many weekends were spent at Gene’s Magnolia House with family, enjoying the great outdoors. He respected wildlife of all kinds, even though he was an expert marksman. West Virginia always brought a smile to his face. Gene also enjoyed the Annual Apple Butter Festival and spent many happy hours at the Coolfont Lodge. He really loved to listen to the John Denver song “Take Me Home Country Roads.”
Gene was proud of his Hungarian heritage and loved sharing stories of his youth with his family. He graduated from Windber High School and as a teen, enjoyed working with wood to build toys and furniture. He also attended American University and George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 1939, he journeyed to Brooklyn N.Y. and lived with his adoring Aunt Barbara and Uncle Charles to study at the Delahanty Aviation Institute. In 1941, Gene traveled to Baltimore, Md., and worked at Glenn Martin for 12 hours a day, seven days a week on B-26 bombers. Soon thereafter, Uncle Sam came calling, and he was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Camp Blanding, Florida. He was selected as an Infantry Instructor, and subsequently offered to serve as a Special Agent focusing on intelligence and investigations at Fort Meade, Md. Gene was extremely proud to serve 36 years in the U.S. Army and Reserve and was honored to be promoted to Colonel!
Throughout his distinguished civilian career, Gene was one of the original members of the Operations Research Office (ORO) and served as the Director of Security for the Research Analysis Corporation (RAC) and General Research Corporation (GRC). He was routinely sought after to assist in many high level national security issues. Gene also served in many other prestigious positions and was highly regarded in the field of security and intelligence, spending countless hours at the Pentagon, as well. He helped create the American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS) and served as the Chairman over 50 years ago.
Gene served as Executive Secretary, Vice President, Board Member and former President for National Classification Management Society (NCMS) through a 31 year span (1964-1995), with his wife Barbara by his side, all the way. More recently, he was appointed as the Commander of the Bethesda Chapter of the Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW). Gene was the recipient of numerous awards and certificates that cover the walls of his home office. “The Donald B. Woodbridge Award of Excellence,” The Legion of Merit Award,” “James S. Cogswell Award,” “Who’s Who in Professional Security,” as well as numerous “Certificates of Appreciation” for his devoted service and many constructive contributions to NCMS, to name a few.
Gene married the love of his life, Barbara, in 1947 at Walter Reed Chapel. They met in Washington, D.C., and enjoyed a lovely courtship. He created a tradition of giving Barbara three new lipsticks on every anniversary, which he always sampled with a kiss. They were to have celebrated 71 years of wedded bliss on June 28, 2018; however, he lost his “BabyDoll” earlier that year on April 25. Gene and Barbara were an inspiration for many friends and family as to what a perfect marriage should be. They are fondly remembered for their devotion, loyalty and kindness to many people.
Recently, after Gene became ill with COPD in 2014, he began writing poems about his amazing life. He wrote and published two volumes and was working on completing his third volume. Gene’s most favorite pastime was just floating in his treasured swimming pool on a warm summer day surrounded by family and talking about his wonderful memories of West Virginia.
Gene is preceded in death by his beautiful wife Barbara, his parents John and Anna (Labbancz) Suto, sister Anna Suto Kimmell (Clyde) and was joined one month later by his dear brother Joseph C. Suto. Sr.
Left to cherish his memory are deeply devoted daughters Barbara Gene Suto (Thomas Bevans), Lori Suto-Goldsby (John Goldsby) and Patricia Lou Suto; loving grandsons John J. Goldsby (Nicole) and James A. Goldsby; adoring great-grandchildren Kennedy and Grayson Goldsby, as well as his beloved cat, Zorro.
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