Eugene (Gene) Earl Harless Jr., 81 went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, January 17, 2024 after an extended illness.

Born August 23, 1942 to Eugene E Harless Sr. and Ella Mae (Chadwick) Harless in Toledo Ohio, Gene attended Scott High School.

Gene was preceded in death by his father Eugene, his mother Ella Mae, and his daughter Nicole. He is survived by his four sons, David, Michael, Stephen, and Joseph, and his granddaughter Charlie.

Gene spent his teen years as a competitive free-style roller skater. Gene was known for being the first man to ever present a clean triple mapes at the National Championships in 1960 and followed up with a clean triple mapes and triple toe walley in 1961. He was a sought-after free-style instructor at Ohio Skate Arena and raised all his children with skates on their feet.

Gene had a mind for sports and coached the Longfellow Steelers little league football team while his wife Joyce coached the cheerleading squad.

Gene had an elite career with the Toledo Police Department as a Sergeant and headed up the first Toledo Police SWAT team. A pioneer in this field, Gene even had occasion to train CIA and ATF agents in urban warfare.

Gene was an avid powerlifter with a 340lb bench press at 61 years old. He loved football and loved watching and talking about his beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. He had a passion for fast cars and owned several Buick Grand Nationals, modifying them, and showing off how fast a 6-cylinder can go at Norwalk Raceway. He embraced Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior late in his life and was baptized on December 19, 2023. His family will have a Celebration of Life Service at a later date.