Walter E. “Gene” Lafferre, 89, most recently of Marysville and previously of Oxford, Florida, died Sunday, Dec. 3, 2017, at the Kobacker House in Columbus surrounded by his loving family.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army. In his early years, he worked at North American and in the oil fields as a tool dresser. He worked most of his life as a finish carpenter and for the Hilliard Post Office, from which he retired.
He was a member of Jehovah’s Witnesses and served as a minister and elder at Kingdom Halls in Ohio and Florida. He also was quite the mechanic, and was always one to “do it himself.” If he did not know how to repair or build something, he would learn. He helped build many Kingdom Hall buildings in the Columbus area.
He was born on Feb. 10, 1928, in Lewisville, to the late Ivan Orlando and Grace Elizabeth (Spence) Lafferre.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Dora (Mallett) Lafferre, of Marysville, whom he married on June 25, 1954; children, Barbara Lowe (Doyle) Rausch of Marysville and Joseph Dean (Erica) Lafferre of Columbus; grandchildren, Trevor (Angela) Lowe of Marysville, Ariana (Casey) Myers of Hilliard and Dorian Lafferre and Kaylina Ruth, both of Columbus; great-grandchildren, Harper and Max Myers and Gunnar Lowe; brother, Chauncey Dean (Doris) Lafferre of West Virginia; and sister, Helen Georgiana Lafferre of Ocala, Florida.
Max Foust will officiate a memorial service at 2 p.m. Saturday at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 17700 Echo Dr., in Marysville. Burial will take place at a later date. Friends may call one hour prior to the service at 1 p.m. or after the service at Kingdom Hall. Arrangements are being handled by Wilson Funeral Home, Mannasmith Chapel.
Memorial contributions may be made to Worldwide Work at www.JW.org. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.wilsonfuneralhomesinc.com.