Gene Gibson Weber of Cumberland, Maryland, passed away on August 7, 2026, at the Lions Center in Cumberland. Born January 28, 1936, he was 90. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather whose life was grounded in faith, family, service and hard work.

Gene is survived by his wife, Shirley Maxine (Knippenberg) Weber; his sister, Roseann Hannon; his daughters, Cheryl House (Ted), Linda Dunbar (Tim) and Robin Imgrund (Brian); his grandchildren, Meredith Holtman (Adam), Bryn Dunbar, Emily Imgrund (Adam) and Nathan Imgrund; and numerous nieces and nephews, including Tim Turner (Natasha) and Peggy Hannon (Dave). He was preceded in death by his parents, Margaret and Eugene Weber, and his sisters-in-law, Marie O'Neal, Dorothy Crowe, May Robison, Betty Jane Adams and Harriett Turner.

A 1954 graduate of Fort Hill High School, Gene received the school's history award, participated in the magic club, and was a three-letter athlete. He played football as a kicker and tight end, basketball as a forward and competed in the discus, holding the Maryland State and Fort Hill High School record for many years. He was also a City of Cumberland horseshoe champion in high school and continued to enjoy sports throughout his life, including pickup basketball, ping pong and tennis. Most of all, Gene loved the outdoors and enjoyed fishing in lakes and streams.

Gene loved nothing more than Shirley, his wife of nearly 72 years. Their love story began when Shirley first saw him playing basketball at Bruce Lynn's house nearby. At age 15, they worked together on the East Side Playground newspaper, where Gene and Bruce were sports editors and Shirley was the feature writer and typist. Gene began walking Shirley home each evening, and soon they fell in love, married on December 18, 1954, and began a lifelong partnership centered on faith, family and devotion to one another.

Gene served in the United States Navy before beginning a long career as a carpenter and contractor. After completing a four-year apprenticeship, he became a journeyman carpenter with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America and helped build the Westvaco paper mill. He later operated Weber and Johnson Contractors with James Milton Johnson and then Weber Contracting, where Robert Kaiser worked with him for a short period.

A perfectionist who took great pride in his craftsmanship, he generously used his building and remodeling skills to help his and many other families in Cumberland. When his daughters appeared in plays and musicals at Fort Hill High School, Gene used his carpentry talents to build sets for numerous productions. He contributed so many volunteer hours to the theater program that he was inducted into the International Thespian Society.

Faith was central to Gene's life. At Living Stone Church of the Brethren, he served as a deacon, lay speaker, Sunday school teacher, youth Sunday School superintendent, youth group leader, children's musical director and basketball coach for 25 years. A tenor with a mellow voice, Gene sang frequent solos in the church choir, and performed with the Happy Pappies barbershop quartet. A talented musician, Gene played piano, guitar, mandolin, harmonica and enjoyed leading the congregation in choruses, bringing joy and inspiration to many. At Cornerstone Baptist Church, he served as a trustee, a greeter, sang in the choir and participated in Bible study and Sunday school. He was also a member of the Christian Businessmen.

Gene's service extended throughout the community. He and Shirley led the Jesus Generation youth group for eight to 10 years, including accompanying 21 young people to the Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference in Estes Park, Colorado, in 1978. Following the death of his long-time friend at a young age, Gene helped establish and, for many years, presented the Class of 1954 William Bruce Lynn Memorial Award to the most valuable player in Cumberland Area's Youth Football League. He also served as PTA president at Penn Avenue and Johnson Heights elementary schools and chaired the Johnson Heights May Day celebration.

Gene never met a stranger. Easygoing yet determined, he enjoyed fly-fishing in streams and lakes, vacations in Cape Cod and Bar Harbor, and time at the Weber family camp. Gene was a master gardener growing all varieties of fruits and vegetables, but all especially enjoyed his beautiful tomatoes. Above all, he treasured his family and lived by a simple expression of faith: a sinner saved by grace. His legacy will endure in the family he loved, the young people he mentored, the congregations he served and the homes and community he helped build.

Friends will be received at the Scarpelli Funeral Home, P.A., 108 Virginia Avenue, Cumberland, on Monday, August 10, 2026 from 5-7pm. Visitation will continue at Cornerstone Baptist Church on Tuesday, August 11, from 10-11am. A funeral service will follow at 11am. Interment will be in Sunset Memorial Park.

Condolences may be left at www.ScarpelliFH.com.