Chief Master Sergeant (ret) Lowery E. (Gene) Moore passed away August 8, 2006 at home in Vandenberg Village after a year-long valiant fight against cancer.

Gene was born April 2, 1929 in Muskogee, Oklahoma to Lowery and Dona Moore. He was educated in Tulsa and graduated from Will Rogers High School in 1947. He joined the U.S. Army Air Corps in September 1947, two weeks before it became the U.S. Air Force. After various assignments around the world, Gene was transferred to Vandenberg and assigned to the 392nd Training Squadron where he proudly served on the team that launched the first Thor rocket in December 1958 and all subsequent Thor rockets from Vandenberg. They also trained Royal Air Force personnel, and Gene delighted in his new British friends. He retired as a Chief Master Sergeant in 1971. He then began a new career in weights and measures and retired completely in 2001. He was active in the Chiefs Group at Vandenberg and greatly admired the new breed of Chiefs in today's Air Force.

Gene is survived by his wife, Bobbie, daughter, Dee Lopez of Pittsburg, CA, brother, Gary Moore of Tulsa, OK, stepsons, Dane Randolph of San Diego, CA and Todd Randolph of Marysville, WA, in-laws, Lt Col (ret) Donald J. (Jerry) and Jeb Tracy, five grandchildren and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at the Main Chapel at Vandenberg Air Force Base, August 16, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Lompoc Animal Shelter, 1501 West Central Ave, Lompoc.