Gene Ray Vinlove, 88, died peacefully on April 6, 2026, at Hillsboro Rehabilitation and Health Care Center in Hillsboro.
A memorial service with military honors and inurment will take place at Camp Butler National Cemetery in Springfield, on Tuesday, June 2, at 10 a.m.
Mr. Vinlove was born on Dec. 21, 1937, to Irving N. Breaux and Bertha A. Vinlove in Tacoma, WA.
He was raised Roman Catholic, baptized on Dec. 14, 1938, at St. Agnes Church in Los Angeles, CA, and received The Sacrament of First Holy Communion on May 11, 1947, in the Church of Holy Rosary at St. Vincent’s School for Boys in San Rafael, CA. A man of deep faith, he often shared conversations about God, prayer and heaven. His spirituality brought comfort not only to himself, but also to those around him. He served in the United States Navy from 1957 to 1961, as an electronics technician attached to the USS Belle Grove, a ship which engaged in Operation Hardtack I, a 35-detonation series of nuclear tests held at Eniwetok, Bikini and Johnston Island. He was honorably discharged from military service to attend university.
Mr. Vinlove will be remembered for his kind heart, warm smile and friendly spirit. He was known for greeting everyone with kindness and making people feel welcome. He believed remembering someone’s name was the first step toward friendship and he made lasting connections with staff, residents and visitors, alike, at Hillsboro Rehab. He enjoyed the outdoors, especially bird watching, and appreciated the simple beauty in everyday life.
He often spoke of the friendships he made and the gratitude he felt for the people who became part of his extended family, as he had no surviving relatives. He will be deeply missed by all who enjoyed the privilege of knowing him and he will be remembered with great fondness.
Condolences may be left at www.houghdeanfh.com.
