Eugene (Gene) Hochwalt passed away peacefully on 9/16/2024 after a slow decline from dementia. He was born in Dayton, Ohio to Theron and Marie (Vitt) Hochwalt in March of 1931.

Dad finished high school early, and after graduating at age 17, enlisted in the Air Force. After boot camp he was shipped over to Germany where he was part of the Berlin Airlift. While stationed at McChord Air Force Base, Gene met his wife of 70 years, Phyllis Robbecke. And while in the Northwest, he also worked for a while at The Bon Marche in their graphics department.

During his Air Force career, Gene and Phyllis were stationed in West Palm Beach, Florida; Anchorage, Alaska; Hampton, Virginia; and Fairborn, Ohio. Along the way, they welcomed their two kids, Joe and Jeannie.

After retiring from the Air Force, Gene continued his graphic arts career at a small sign shop, Peninsula Sign and Letter in Hampton, Virginia, where he hand-lettered vehicles for real estate companies and created signs for new housing developments. While there, a former colleague from The Bon Marche let dad know of a great opportunity back in Seattle and the family relocated to the Seattle area in 1974. Dad worked for "The Bon" until retiring in 1992. He continued pursuing his art at home - including learning how to use a computer to create designs.

In their retirement, Gene and Phyllis enjoyed traveling via motorhome to the Phoenix, Arizona area and visiting with their kids and grandkids. They eventually moved to Arizona where the draw of the desert kept them in Sun City West for a number of years. Gene donated countless hours of graphic design work to local charities. Gene lost his vision to macular degeneration, which put a damper on his creative work - a great frustration for him.

Gene and Phyllis returned to the Northwest in 2010 to be closer to family, spending a few years in a condo a short distance away from son Joe and his family, and later in a retirement community near daughter Jeannie. In late 2018, Gene and Phyllis moved to Angel Haven Estates, an adult family home in Auburn, Washington, where they both received incredible care. Franciscan Hospice provided wonderful care to both Gene and Phyllis in their last months.

Gene was preceded in death by his "sweetie," Phyllis in 2021, and leaves behind son, Joe (Debbie) and daughter Jeannie (Jeff); three grandkids, Evan (Claire), Spencer and Jordan; and half-sister Linda Walters; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Gene and Phyllis will be interred at Tahoma National Cemetery on Wednesday, September 25th at 12:30. If you are so moved, feel free to donate in their names to the Alzheimer's Associate, Franciscan Hospice or a Veterans Service Organization of your choice.