of Conway, AR

July 15, 1927 - April 19, 2018

Chester E. ''Gene'' Bloom, 90, passed away Thursday, April 19, 2018 at his home in Conway, AR. He was born July 15, 1927 in Clearfield, PA to the late Alvin Chester and Margaret Jean (Pfifer) Bloom. Gene was also preceded in death by his high school sweetheart and wife of 45 years, Mabel Delores (Riddle) Bloom, his son, John Mark Bloom and his brother, Donald Bloom.

Gene attended and graduated from Curwensville High School and was captain of his football, basketball and baseball teams his senior year. Upon graduation Gene enlisted in the U.S. Navy and attended boot camp and advanced school at Millington Naval Air Station in Tennessee. After advanced school he was stationed at Millington as a Radar School instructor. While there he tried out and made the base baseball team. He was the only player on the team with just high school experience. His teammates were either college or professional baseball players. At the time of his honorable discharge he was the team's leading hitter. That lead to Gene being signed with the NY Yankees and he played on their farm club in Easton MD. He made the team but was released due to arm related injuries.

Upon his return to Curwensville, he was recruited by the coach from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. He played one year of college football but due to the aforementioned shoulder injuries he again was released. Gene was able to play four year of college baseball. Again he was the team captain his senior year. He was also president of his fraternity Phi Alpha Zeta. During the final semester of his senior year he married his childhood sweetheart Mabel Riddle. They had a great marriage that lasted 45 years. Upon graduation he embarked on a 36 year professional management career including treasurer of Universal Nolan in Conway, AR. He also served as general manager for a short time prior to its sale to Frigidaire. He stayed on with the parent company as a trouble shooter for the next three years. He visited several of their operations across the country assisting with cost and inventory control systems. He retired in 1988 at age 61. The Conway Country Club became the center of Gene and Mabel's social life making many friends golfing and socializing. Gene also ''took his turn in the barrel'' serving as treasurer on the board of directors for about 10 years with brief stints as general manager.

Gene is survived by his daughter, Deborah Howell and her husband John of Little Rock, AR, sister, Janet Carter and husband Jim of Strafford, MO, daughter-in-law, Terry Bloom of Corry, PA, 3 grandchildren, Katie Bloom and her companion Nathan of Henderson, NC, Michael Bloom and his wife Tina of Philadelphia, PA, and Jason Howell and his wife Kelly of Conway, AR; great-grandchild, Kaden Howell and many good friends.

A private celebration of Gene's Life will be held at the Conway Country Club at a later date. Memorials may be made to Arkansas Hospice.

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