Eugene A. Gaffney died July 27, 2010 at Providence-Marionwood in Issaquah.

He was born Dec. 6, 1917 in Sprague, Wash. to Thomas and Irene (Ringwood) Gaffney. He was raised in Sprague and at the age of 9 his family moved to Maple Valley, where he attended grade school and later graduated from Tahoma High School.

He became an amateur shortwave operator while in high school. He attended the Radio Technology Institute and after training, he joined the U.S. Coast Guard serving as a radioman Aleutian Islands, Ala. He later worked for the Alaska Communication System and when World War II broke out he was inducted into the U.S. Army Signal Corps. He was honorably discharged as a Technical Staff Sergeant Sept. 14, 1945.

For the last 68 years he has been a wheat farmer and also later began raising cattle.

Eugene was a member of the Knights of Columbus and Mary, Queen of Heaven Church in Sprague, the American Radio Relay League and was a HAM operator.

He is survived by his brother Thomas (wife Terry Ann) Gaffney; sister Dolores (husband Martin) Judge both of Mercer Island; eight nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother Edmund in 1940 and his sister Bernadine Gebenini in 2007.

A funeral was conducted Aug. 3 at St. Monica’s Catholic Church, Mercer Island, Wash.

Memorial donations can be sent to Providence-Marionwood 3725 Providence Pt. Dr. S.E., Issaquah, Wa 98029. Friends are invited to sign the family’s online guest book at www.flintofts.com

Arrangements were by Flintofts Funeral Home.