Gene Worley (1927-2011) Friend of the School of Music

Arthur Gene Worley

Gene was born in Junction City, AR on April 27, 1927 and passed away August 25, 2011 at the age of 84 surrounded by his loved ones. He grew up in

El Dorado, AR where he attended Southside School and El Dorado High School. The day after graduation he was drafted into the Army.

He proudly served his country during WWII. While stationed at LSU, he joined the chancel choir at First United Methodist Church, where he met Virginia. Four months later, on August 5, 1947, they were married. This month, they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. He was discharged from the Army in the summer of 1948 and went on to complete his Bachelor’s degree in three years. He will be remembered by many for the years he ran an Esso station on Highland Rd., his time in the Mayor’s Office as Woody Dumas’s Adm. Assistant and as “the chocolate man” of World’s Finest Chocolate. He always said he had the sweetest job, which he loved for 25 years. He was also a 32^nd degree Mason. Gene and Virginia took many wonderful trips where they made friends along the way. But their travels always brought them back home where he enjoyed gardening, blogging, activities at First United Methodist church where he was a member for 64 years and especially time with family and friends.

Gene was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was preceded in death by his parents, Abie and Will, an infant brother and sister, brother Malcolm and sister Louise. He is survived by his wife, Virginia Durrett Worley; son and daugher-in-law, David and Charlene Worley; daughter and son-in-law, Tricia and Willis Delony; brother and sister-in-law, Wren and Virginia H. Worley; grandchildren Kari Worley Roucher, Chris Worley, Craig Delony, Mary Claire Delony and Ben Delony; four great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. The family would like to express gratitude to the doctors, nurses and staff of the ICU at Baton Rouge General on Bluebonnet and to Gene’s nephew, Mitch Worley, for his love and support.

Come celebrate Gene’s life with his family during a visitation at First United Methodist Church on Monday, Aug. 29 from 9 a.m. until the service in the church sanctuary at 11 a.m. Funeral arrangements made through Rabenhorst Funeral Home on Government St. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church Music Program, or to the LSU Foundation -- School of Music Scholarship Fund.