Elbert Eugene Rankin (Lubbock)
Elbert Eugene “Gene” Rankin got a promotion and went to be with our Lord on November 8, 2022. Gene was born on September 5, 1923, in a farmhouse in the Lone Star Community north of Lockney, Texas. He attended Lockney public schools before moving to Plainview at 13.
Gene graduated from Plainview High School in May of 1940 and worked full-time in a grocery store before enrolling at Texas A&M as a Mechanical Engineering student in the fall of 1941. He transferred to Texas Tech in January of 1942 and graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering with an Aeronautical option in June 1945. Gene was inducted into the Navy in July of 1945, began training as an Aviation Electronic Technicians Mate, and served until August 1946. Several months after his discharge from the Navy, he was employed by Phillips Petroleum Company in Phillips, Texas as a Design Engineer. He worked in several capacities, including Design Engineering, Process Engineering, Operations, Safety, Equipment Inspection, and Fire Protection. However, the most significant life event during his employment there was his good fortune in meeting his future bride.
Gene married the love of his life, Rebecca Troxel, on February 3, 1951, and they went on to live the American dream over their 68+ years together in mutual adoration of each other and their children. He was a role model and an exceptionally loving husband, father, and Papa. He retired from Phillips Petroleum Company in July 1985 as Design Engineering Director at the PPC Refinery & NGL Process Center in Borger, Texas.
Gene was active in community service throughout his life, beginning with his participation in the Boy Scouts as a young man. He served on the School Board of Education for the Phillips Independent School District for 9 years while his children attended school there. Gene was a devout Christian and was a member of the Phillips United Methodist Church, St. Andrew Methodist Church in Borger, and the United Methodist Church in Lubbock throughout his long and blessed life. He assumed various responsibilities within those churches but seemed to enjoy caring for the grounds and participating on the bowling teams the most before moving to Lubbock.
After he and Becky moved to Lubbock in 1999 and joined FUMC of Lubbock, Gene served on the Evangelism Committee, the Everliving Trust Committee, the Council on Ministries, the Administrative Board, and as President of the HomeBuilders Sunday School Class. His life took a devastating turn when he lost his wife, Becky, in October of 2019, and he is no doubt rejoicing in his reunion with her today.
Gene is preceded in death by his mother, Bessie Thompson Rankin, his father, Elbert Hill Rankin, his brother, Robert Wilson Rankin, and his loving wife, Rebecca Bird Rankin.
He is survived by his three children, Scott Eugene Rankin, his daughters, Jill Rankin Schneider and Debra Sue Rankin, and his four grandchildren that he adored, Erica Dawn Rankin, Ryan Rankin Schneider, Haley Anne Schneider, and Kellyn Kacie Schneider.
