Gene R. Groll, 86, a life-long resident of Oregon, Ohio passed away Wednesday, September 8, 2010 in his home surrounded by his family. Gene was born on June 13, 1924 in Toledo, Ohio to George and Laura (Walters) Groll. He graduated in 1942 from Clay High School. He attended Ohio State University. Gene served in WWII in the Army Air Force where he flew 32 combat missions, including 2 missions on D-Day. Following the war, Gene worked at the Standard Oil Refinery for 36 years and retired as an Instrumentation Supervisor. City Fire Chief Gene Groll served on the Oregon Volunteer Fire Department from 1947 until his retirement in 1986. Since the inception of the Oregon Volunteer Fire Department there has always been a Groll family member serving the community. He was also involved with the Groll Family Poultry Farm. Gene enjoyed farming, fishing, and traveling in his motor home to Ruskin, Florida. He was very proud of the fact that he traveled to each of the 48 contiguous United States and saw every casino in-between. He was also the past commander of VFW Post 9455 and one of the founders of the Bay Area Credit Union. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elnore; children, Robert (Cathy) Groll, Deborah (Al) DePaolo, Michael (Violet Gaddis) Groll, Jeff (Teresa) Groll, and Sue (Bruce) Seibert; twin-sisters, Murel Kontak and Burel Chesher; 10 grandchildren, Rob, Jackie, Will, Tiffany, Jake, Kelly, Rex, Jack, Katy and Laura; great-grandchildren, Bo, Abby, Zach, Maranda and J.J. Gene was preceded in death by his parents. Visitation will take place on Friday, September, 10, 2010 at Eggleston Meinert Pavley Funeral Home, Oregon Chapel, 440 S. Coy Rd. from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Funeral services will be conducted on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the funeral home followed by Oregon Volunteer Fire Department Last Call Services. Interment will take place in St. John'™s Cemetery with American Legion Dunberger Post Military Rites. Those wishing to make an expression of sympathy in Gene'™s name are asked to consider First St. John'™s Lutheran Church or Hospice of Northwest Ohio. The family would like to express special thanks to the nurses of Hospice of Northwest Ohio.