Earl Eugene Reinbold

Earl, known as Eugene or Gene in the Palestine area, was the oldest child of H. Harold Reinbold and Fern (Meeks) Reinbold. He is survived by two sisters & brothers-in-law, Louise & David Carroll of California and Shirley & Tony Lessman of New Jersey. He married Ruth Evelyn Knoblett in September 1953 and they had three daughters, all of whom survive with their spouses - Kathleen & Mike Bachman, Karen & Ken Sutter, and Sally & Tom Donnelly. He is also survived by 4 grandchildren, Matthew & wife Tascha, Nicholas, Amanda, and Lee; by 6 great grandchildren, as well as several nieces and nephews across the country. He was preceded in death by his father & step-mother, H. Harold & Rosa Reinbold; by his mother & step-father, Fern &Artie Cowden; by his brother-in-law, Bob Trost; and by his nephew, Scott Knoblett. Eugene graduated from Palestine High School in 1951 and joined the U.S. Air Force in 1953. He was sent to Radio Basic school at Scott Field in Illinois, then for additional training in California before overseas Air Force Security Services (electronics) in Germany. He was honorably discharged in 1957. He worked on radios and television repair before joining IBM in 1959 (Federal Systems Division) and was transferred to Oregon to work on early air defense computers. In 1960 he transferred to Chicago for commercial account computers, in 1973 to Bloomington, Illinois and in 1981 to Tucson, Arizona. He retired from IBM in 1989. In 1991 he moved back to Palestine for a slower pace. The slower pace included various activities as many know – builder, electrician, plumber, concrete mason, woodworker, auto repair and restoration, and all-around handyman. He was involved in building several homes in the Bloomington-Normal area. In Palestine, Eugene actively contributed his time towards improvements to the Palestine Rodeo grounds, Fort Lamotte, the Palestine Art Center, and other community development projects. Tape measures, keys and toothpicks were never far from reach. He was member of the Palestine Masonic Lodge and the Sabbar Shrine Temple, Tucson, Arizona. A private family burial will be held at a later date. The Goodwine Funeral Home in Palestine is in charge of arrangements. The family requests donations be made to the Palestine Masonic Lodge or Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, with envelopes available at the funeral home.