VINTON:  Gene Relf, 76, died Sunday, December 14, 2008 at the Dennis & Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha following an extended illness.
     Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 AM, Wednesday, December 17, 2008 at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton with Pastor Kären Larson officiating.  Private Committal Services will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Vinton.  Friends may call at Phillips Funeral Home Chapel in Vinton from 4 to 7 PM, on Tuesday.  A Memorial Fund has been established.
      Gene was born June 23, 1932 at Indianapolis, IN to George Henry and Mary (Teeters) Relf and graduated from the Arsino Technical High School in Indianapolis.  From 1949 to 1953 he served his nation in the US Air Force as a Airman First Class.
      On June 12, 1955 he married Marcia Campbell at Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton.  Gene was a Letter Carrier for the US Postal Service for twenty-eight years and he retired in 1989.  He was a fifty-five year member of Wesley United Methodist Church in Vinton. Gene served his community as one of the first crewmembers of North Benton Ambulance Service. He enjoyed woodworking and crafts, nature, fishing and Gospel Music.   He and Marcia enjoyed wintering in Texas and Gene loved playing games with his granddaughters.
     He is survived by his wife, Marcia of Vinton; his son, Steven (Karen) Relf of Bettendorf; his granddaughters, Anna and Samantha Relf; his sister, Gladys Smee of Scottsdale, AZ; and his "special family", Ed and Julie Duran and their daughters, Amanda (Andrew) Ott and Katie Duran.
     He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Ron Relf who died December 18, 1980; his twin brother, Jack Relf; his brother, George William Relf; and his sister, Vera Keck.