Virgil Eugene "Gene" Ellinger, 84, 1706 Meadowview Drive, Celina, died at 12:20 a.m. Jan. 1, 2009, at Celina Manor Nursing Home.

He was born July 4, 1924, in Ohio City, to Perry W. and Pearl Mae Gerard Ellinger. On Sept. 12, 1948, he married Nancy Ganci, who survives.

Other survivors are six sons, Wally and Ron (Keri), all of Celina, Sal (Paula), Swanton, Tom (Terrie), Cincinnati, John (Betsy), Kenneth City, Fla., and Neil, Dayton; a daughter, Nancy (Mike) Allen, Celina; a brother, Richard (Pauline), Ohio City; two sisters-in-law, Florence, New Knoxville, and Kate, Huber Heights; a brother-in-law, Richard Beach, Van Wert; eight grandchildren, three stepgrandchildren and six stepgreat-grandchildren.

Deceased are five brothers, Fred, Homer, John, Jim, Leo; and a sister, Recie Beach.

He retired as a chief accountant of the former farm equipment division of New Idea, Division of AVCO, Coldwater, and was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Celina. He was a former member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Montezuma, the church's Holy Name Society, council and choir. He was a little league coach in Montezuma for five years. He graduated in 1943 from the former Ohio City Liberty High School and from the former Giffin College in Van Wert.

Funeral Mass is 10:30 a.m. Monday at Immaculate Conception church, the Rev. Richard Riedel officiating. Burial follows at St. Marys Catholic Cemetery, Celina.

Calling is 3-6 p.m. Sunday and before 10 a.m. Monday at Lehman-Hogenkamp-Dzendzel Funeral Home, Celina.

Contributions can be made to Celina Area Visiting Nurses and Hospice.

Condolences can be left at LHDfunerlhome.com.