Submitted by
Vicki Ebert

E. C. "Gene" Rivers

E. C. "Gene" Rivers, of 303 East Maple, died Monday afternoon at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center.
Born Nov. 14, 1908 in Morrison, he grew up in that area, and later graduated from Central State University.
On July 25, 1930 he married Delma Young of Chattanooga, Okla. in Haskell. The couple made their first home in Chattanooga, then moved to Ponca City in 1940.
Mr. Rivers taught school in the Oklahoma School system for 10 1/2 years, and then was employed by Cities Service Oil Company for 32 years.
He was active in Ponca City Youth Baseball, and helped with Junior, Senior and American Legion baseball programs in Ponca City through the '40's and '50's. In 1964 he was honored by the Ponca City Colt League for outstanding service to Ponca City Baseball.
Mr Rivers was a pioneer in the formation and growth of the National Rifle Association in Ponca City and serviced as Civil Defense Director in the late '50's. He was a charter member and past president of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Mr. Rivers was also associated with the Pioneer Geological Society, which he formed with a class of 40 students in March 1971, and then served as founding president.
He was a member of the American Legion, and served as Post Commander in 1959. He was a member of the National Guard of Tonkawa, 45th Infantry Division and was mobilized in the early fifties, and stationed at Camp Polk, La.
Surviving are his wife, Delma of the home; two sons, Ronald Rivers of Houston, and Warren Rivers of Ponca City; a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Carder of Grand Junction, Colo; ten grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; and two sisters, Mrs Barbara Chambers of Ponca City, and Mrs. Thelma Simpson of Lake Charles, La.
He was preceded in death by his parents, five brothers and four sisters.
Funeral service will be a10:30 a.m. Thursday at the Seventh Day Adventist Church, 219 North Elm, with Pastor Jim Ferguson officiating, assisted by Pastor Don Bake of Stillwater. Burial will be 2:30 p.m. Thursday at Grace Lawn Cemetery in Edmond. Arrangements are under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel.
Casketbearers will be members of the American Legion Honor Guard. Honorary casketbearers will be Lawrence Dronberger, Kenneth "Doc" Wright, Paul Rose, Earl Geren, Pat Bunney, Allen Miller, Phillip Gates, James Miller and Floyd Pomeroy.
Military graveside rites will be conducted by American Legion Huff Minor Post 14, Ponca City.