Gene Toigo

Memorial services for S. Eugene “Gene” Toigo, 93, of Lufkin will be held Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church with Fr. Joby Thomas officiating. Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Carroway Funeral Home.

S. Eugene “Gene” Toigo was born in Allentown, Pennsylvania October 15, 1930 to immigrant Italian parents, Dominico Bortolo Toigo and Cesira AnnaMarie (Grisotto) and is a first generation American. He died Friday, May 24, 2024.

He graduated from the University of Miami in Florida with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Civil Engineering. He played clarinet in junior and senior high school and played in several community bands and orchestras with his future wife, Melba. In college, he played tenor saxophone in The Band of the Hour and was also in the marching band at the University of Miami.

After college he married Melba and they lived in Dallas, Texas for many years.  He was employed in the engineering department of Chance Vaught Aircraft Company in Dallas, Texas. After several years in the aircraft industry, he entered the construction industry as a field engineer and later as a sales engineer and sales manager with a concrete products company.

He came to Lufkin, Texas to manage a prestressed concrete plant producing highway bridge beams and piling. In 1982 he formed his own structural engineering company, Toigo Engineering, and practiced as a licensed professional structural design engineer for thirty years.

In his spare time, he enjoyed reading and playing golf. He was a Charter Member of the Crown Colony Country Club and a member of the Crown Colony Senior Members Golf Association.

He was a Life Member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and a Life Member of the National Society of Professional Engineers. He also served as Past President of the Piney Woods Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers and was a member of the Texas Society of Civil Engineers. Additionally, he was Past President of the Downtown Lufkin Development Association and the St. Cyprian's Episcopal School Board. He held the position of Senior Warden at St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church and was currently a member of St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, where he served on the building committee.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife and childhood sweetheart of 66 years, Melba Louise (DeWalt) Toigo, who passed away January 2, 2019; and his brothers, Clarence of Shippensburg, Pennsylvania and Quinto Toigo of Allentown, Pennsylvania.

Survivors include his sons, Wayne of Morgan Hill, California, David and his wife Sharla of Plano, Texas, and Kyle and his wife Laurie of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. He is also survived by his daughter, Monica Mesch, and her husband David of Grand Prairie, Texas.

His grandchildren include his grandson, Jordy Toigo of Chandler, Arizona; granddaughters Zoe Mangus and her husband Alexander of Durham, North Carolina, Lia Toigo of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, Amanda Mesch of Dallas, Texas, and Ashley Mesch of Grand Prairie, Texas. He also leaves behind a great-granddaughter, Alana Toigo of Chandler, Arizona.

Additionally, he is survived by his brothers, Alexander and his wife Adelina of Rancho Palos Verde, California and Sergio of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; and his sister, Esther Wallitsch and her husband Richard of Easton, Pennsylvania. His sisters-in-law include Bernice Toigo of Allentown, Pennsylvania and Donna Vaccaro of Midland, Michigan. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Andrew the Apostle Catholic Church, 1611 Feagin Drive, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Memories and condolences may be added at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.

Carroway Funeral Home, Lufkin, directors.