Gene C. Ditch, II, age 64, passed away on Friday, March 01, 2019. He was born on June 21, 1954 in St. Louis, MO to the late Gene C. Ditch and Mary J. (Williams) Ditch. He graduated from Washington (MO) High School in 1972 and graduated from Central Methodist University in 1977. He completed his Masters at University of Missouri Columbia. He began his career as a choir and band teacher in public school, and after 38 years, retired as head of the Music Dept. and Professor Emeritus at St. Charles Community College. He was a member and pianist at Shiloh United Methodist Church in Foristell, MO.

 

     He is the beloved husband and best friend of Rebecca Ditch of Lake Saint Louis for 11 years; loving father of Hilari (Russ) Henderson of Springfield MO, Ashleigh (Adam) Goris of Saint Peters, and Step-Son, Philip (Janet Mayher) Smereczniak of Saint Peters; amazing grandfather of Aidan and Gavin Henderson, Adam Jr. and Abel Gene Goris, and Natasha Smereczniak. He is teacher, mentor, and father figure to hundreds of others.

 

     He is survived by his mother, Mary J. Ditch; siblings Mark (Nancy) Ditch, Scott (Mary) Ditch, Rebecca (David) Summers; first wife and mother of his children, Georgia (Osmani) Lafita; and numerous nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his father, Gene C. Ditch Sr.

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     He loved fishing, playing piano duets with Becky, playing and singing with his family, traveling, and antiquing. His family paid this tribute to him, “Gene’s passion for music, love for his family and friends, and enthusiasm for life impacted countless lives, and his legacy will live on.”