LeRoy Rand

LeRoy Eugene "Gene" Rand was born August 2nd, 1929, in Florence, AL to Roy and Myrtle Rand. Gene passed away October 11th, 2019, at home in Palmdale, CA at the age of 90. He is survived by his loving wife, Gail F. Rand, his brother Earl Rand and wife SP, his two sons, Karl Rand and wife Alice and Glen Rand and wife Joyce. Gene was a wonderful grandfather to Stephen Rand, Jennifer Matilainen, Dami Rand, and step-grandfather to Christopher Gonzalez, and Melanie Rhoda, and great grandfather to their children. Gene grew up in Brawley, CA with his parents and brother Earl. With his father and brother, Gene traveled extensively. Gene entered the U. S. Navy in 1950 and was a crew member on the U.S.S. Kermit Roosevelt. While in the Navy, Gene earned the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the China Service Medal, and the Navy Occupation Medal.   After his honorable discharge in 1954, Gene met and fell in love with his wife Gail, and they married in July 1955. Shortly afterward, they moved to San Jose, where Gene earned a degree in Geological Engineering at San Jose State University. Gene and Gail were blessed with two sons, Karl and Glen. Gene worked for the U.S.G.S. doing watershed surveys in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, which inspired a love of the outdoors in his sons, who accompanied him from time to time. In 1964 Gene accepted a position with the Department of Water Resources as a geologist building the California Aqueduct. Subsequently, he moved his young family to Palmdale, California in 1964. Gene later accepted a Design Engineering Geologist position with CalTrans and retired from that position at the age of 67. In retirement, Gene and Gail enjoyed traveling throughout the United States, Mexico, Canada, and Central America. In his later years, Gene enjoyed taking long walks. He loved to talk and never met a person who wasn't a friend. The family often teased him that he needed to get a greeter job at WalMart. Thanks to his gift of gab, he was making new friends well into his eighties on his walks. Gene's immediate and extended family misses him greatly. Gene was a dedicated supporter of Disabled American Veterans. Therefore; the family requests that donations to Disabled American Veterans be made in Gene’s name, in lieu of flowers. Please Click on Service Details for Service date, time and location.