Gerald E. "Gene" Rote, 83, of Duke Center died Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Edinboro Manor following a long illness. Born Aug. 27, 1927, in Cranberry, Venango County, he was a son of Gerald A. And Margaret (Laughner) Rote. On Dec. 6, 1974, in the Duke Center United Methodist Church, he married Patricia Myrick Cooper, who passed away on Sept. 8, 1984. On Oct. 26, 1991, in the First Baptist Church, Olean, he married Mary Joan Houben Crocker Tomasick, who survives. Mr. Rote was a 1945 graduate of Otto High School in Duke Center and was a lifelong resident of Duke Center. He was a veteran of World War II, having served with the U. S. Navy in Washington, D.C. He had been in the local oil fi elds in production for the South Penn Oil Co., Bradford. For 20 years, prior to his retirement in 1984, he had been employed as an equipment operator for National Fuel of Bradford. For 20 years he spent his winters in Zephyrhills, Fla. He was an active member of the Duke Center United Methodist Church and the First Baptist Church of Olean. He was a member of the Northern Star Masonic Lodge No. 555 of Duke Center, the Coudersport Consistory and the Scottish Rite. He loved music, and for many years he was active in gospel singing in the area with West Coast and the Cunningham girls. He enjoyed photography and coin collecting. Surviving in addition to his wife, is one son, William R. Rote of Bradford; one daughter, Paulette (Ray) Phillips of Kane; four stepsons, Rick (Kathy) Crocker of Edinboro, Barry (Denise) Crocker of Atlanta, Ga., Donald Cooper and William Cooper; two stepdaughters, Barbara Cooper and Minda Cooper; two grandchildren, Ryan (Stephanie) Phillips and Rory (Monica) Phillips; two great-granddaughters, Kendall and Samantha Phillips; fi ve stepgrandchildren, Justin (Jacklyn), Jared, Jessica, Andrew, and Janell Crocker, and several cousins. Friends may call on Saturday at the Duke Center United Methodist Church from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m., at which time funeral services will be held with the Rev. Gary Sheesley, pastor, offi ciating, and Anthony Evans, co-offi ciating. Burial will follow in McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette.
Kane Republican, The (PA) - October 16, 2010
Family Members
Spouses
Patricia Ann "Patty Ann" Myrick Rote
1936–1984 (m. 1974)
Mary Joan Houben Rote
1935–2019 (m. 1991)
