Alva (Gene) Eugene Pollock was born in Kansas City, Kan. on Jan. 29, 1928 the son of David Danford and Verda Olivia (Walters) Pollock. He departed this life on Aug. 15, 2021 at age of 93 years 6 months and 17 days at Cox Hospital Springfield with his wife at his side. He was drafted into service his senior year, but was given a deferment to finish high school. He then enlisted into the Navy on May 15, 1946. One of his jobs was to disassemble war ships and put them into moth balls at Charleston, S.C.; he was honorable discharged March 10, 1948. He attended SMS College in Springfield for one year, then he moved back to Mountain Grove where he met the love of his life, Wanda on a blind date. They were united in marriage on Sep. 13, 1951 in Mountain Home, Ark. After the birth of their first child, Gene went to work at the Mountain Grove Post Office in 1954. They were blessed with two more children. After 30 plus years, he retired on Sep. 28, 1984. He and Wanda spent several winters in the Sunny South, then came back to the Ozark Hills, where they bought a home on a hill where they enjoyed watching wild life from their back window. He was a long time member of The Trinity United Methodist Church of Mountain Grove.
Gene was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, James David and William Robert Pollock; and two sisters, Mary Elizabeth (Pollock) Adams and Dorothy May (Pollock) Lawson. He is survived by his wife, Wanda, of the home; one son, Terry Eugene and wife, Judy; two daughters, Carolyn Jo Turner and husband, Larry, and Vera Mae; eight grandchildren, Stephanie Williams, Alison McQueary, Benjamin Loney, Brian Pollock, Jessica Rauch, Kinder Gray, Heath Loney and Douglas Turner; 14 great grandchildren, Chassity Wilson, Bryce Loney, Chase Wilson, Courtney Loney, Greggory McQueary, Kylar Pollock, Anna McQueary, Autumn Loney, Cameron McQueary, Grace Loney, Colin Williams, Ethan Loney, Madison Gray and Lincoln Rauch; two great great grandchildren, Kinleigh Rose Brown and Rivers Sawyer Brown; one sister, Anne Gaddis; as well as many nephews, nieces and cousins by the dozens and a host of friends. Per Gene’s request, his body has been donated to Missouri University Department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences. Arrangements were under the direction of Elliott-Gentry-Carder Funeral Home of Cabool. Online condolences may be made at www.egcfuneralhome.com.
