Eugene “Gene” A. Thalmann, formerly of Monticello, NY, died in McAllen, Texas, on Saturday, September 18, 2010. He was 93.
He was born in 1916 in Jersey City, New Jersey, to the late Frederick and Beatrice Thalmann. He served with the U.S. Army in a civilian capacity during Vietnam as a Diesel Repair Service Tech. He was a Certified Vocational Instructor in automotive and diesel repair and worked for Hidalgo High School at one point in his career. He moved to the Rio Grande Valley after the death of his wife, Kathryn Thalmann.  In 1976, he was united in marriage to Mary Alice Richter in McAllen, Texas.
Gene was a longtime member of First Christian Church of McAllen, Texas, where he served at various offices with the church council for a number of years. He was a longtime 33rd degree Mason and a member of the Masonic Lodges in McAllen and Edinburg where he was a Past Grand Master of these Lodges.  For many years Gene served as driver and team member of the Mason’s health support team, frequently driving valley children and their families so they could receive eyecare and other medical services out of the valley, and gathered information and arranged for eye surgeries with local ophthalmologists for qualified persons under the Knights Templar Eye Foundation. He was also a member of the Nomad Shrine Club. 
Gene is survived by his wife Mary Thalmann of McAllen;  three sons, Arthur E. Thalmann and wife Franda of Rock Hill, Charles F. Thalmann and wife Gail of Burnet, Tex., and Thomas J. Thalmann and wife Sally of Virginia Beach, Va.; one daughter, Barbara B. Tear and husband George of Burnet, Tex.; two step-sons, Jon Richter and wife Ellen of Irmo, S.C. and Jeff Richter and wife Ginny of McAllen; two step-daughters, Rosalie Joehnk and husband George of Johnson City, Tex., and Candace Creasy and husband William of Novato, Calif.; 12 grand-children; 13 great grand-children; two great- great-grand-children; and other relatives and many friends.
Memorial services were held Friday, September 24, 2010 at First Christian Church, 1400 N. 10th Street, McAllen, Texas. The Rev. Max Grubb, pastor, officiated. A Masonic service was held at the church following the memorial service.
Burial was made in Fairview Cemetery, Fairview, N.J.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in his name at Nomad Shrine Club, Pharr, Texas for the Tele-Med Foundation. Donations may also be made to the Elks National Foundation, the Masonic Home for the Aged, the Knights Templar Eye Foundation, or Shrine Hospital for Burns and Orthopedics.
Funeral arrangements are by Kreidlerfuneralhome.com