Obituary of Eugene A. Gilliand

Eugene A. Gilliand Eugene A. Gilliand was born November 4, 1936 in McDonough, NY. His parents were Irene and Archie Gilliand. He died on Monday, December 16, 2013 at Bridgewater Nursing Home, Binghamton, NY. He was predeceased his wife Barbara, (Holdridge) Gilliand, a son, Gregory A. Gilliand on September 13, 1978 and his parents. He is survived by his daughter Rebecca and her husband Clifford Booth, of Towson, MD. Three grandchildren; Davis, Evalynn and Alden Booth, a sister, Susan Kipar and brother -in-law David Kipar, two nephews, Michael and Patrick Kipar and their families and several cousins. He graduated from Oxford Academy and Central School in 1953. In 1955 he graduated from the State University at Delhi where he received an ASA degree in Building Construction. He served three years in the Army 1957-1960, 2 years of which were served in Germany. While in the Army he was awarded Good Conduct Medal and an Honorable Discharge in August of 1960. Employment included the family business, Ford Homes, Inc. where he did drafting and sales; SUNY Binghamton (now called BU); He worked there 27 years (1965 until his retirement in April 1992 after he suffered a severe stroke on August 7, 1991. While at SUNY he held many job titles as he progressed from Facilities Planning, Director of Facilities Planning, and Maintenance. He was later appointed to the position of Director of Facilities Planning and Maintenance. His last position was as Assistant Vice-President for Physical Facilities and Facilities Planning and Maintenance. During his employment years he received many letters of praise, "thank-you's" and appreciation from faculty and staff. Gene was proud of the fact that he was never out of work and that he could find a new job in a day. Memberships during his life included; Board of Director of Volunteers of America, APPA (Association of Physical Plant Administrators), served one year as President of New York State - PPAA - (Physical Plant Administrators Association), Red Cross Board (Binghamton, NY), Colesville Rotary was the second President and was honored by being named a Paul Harris Fellow award, Gene was given the New York State Chancellor's Award for Excellence in 1979. He delivered Meals on Wheels in Harpursville for 7 years before moving to Vestal where he delivered for 10 more years until health problems forced him to stop delivering. He was a member of United Methodist Church in Hapursville and Vestal, NY. He loved to play golf, fish, hunt, play cards especially bridge, and gardening. A Funeral Service will be held at the Vestal United Methodist Church, 328 Main St., Vestal, NY on Saturday at 10 a.m. Burial will be in Vestal Park Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the church on Saturday from 9 a.m. until the time of the service. In lieu of flowers, expressions of sympathy in memory of Gene may be made to Vestal United Methodist Church, 328 Main St. Vestal, NY 13850 or to Meals on Wheels of Western Broome, 705 Main St. Endicott, NY 13760.