Bernard Eugene "Gene" Meier, age 92, of Smyrna, TN passed away Saturday, November 16, 2013. A native of Hazelton, PA, he was the son of the late Joseph and Grace Gallagher Meier. He was also preceded in death by his brothers, Rev. Monsignor Joseph Meier and brother John Meier and sisters, Margorie Gallagher, Agatha Meier and Grace Meier. A funeral mass will be held Tuesday at 11:00AM at St. Luke Catholic Church. Father Jacob Dio will officiate. Burial will follow in Roselawn Memorial Gardens with military honors. Mr. Meier is survived by his loving wife, Mary Rose McBride Meier; son, Kevin Meier and his wife Lori of Cincinnati, OH; daughter, Karen Parker and her husband Quentin of Jackson, TN; son, Kerry Meier and his wife Susan of Murfreesboro; and daughters Jean Marie Pelletier of Murfreesboro and Grace Jameson and her husband Robert of Danville, KY; 21 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. Mr. Meier was a devoted member and founder of St. Luke Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharist Minister at the first mass celebrated in the new parish. He was an employee with Capitol Airways and moved to Smyrna in January of 1971 and remained at Capitol Airways until his retirement in January of 1986. Mr. Meier was a loving and proud grandfather. He enjoyed wood working and was very proud of his military service to his country. Mr. Meier enlisted as a private in World War II in 1942 and was discharged in December of 1945 as a 1st Lieutenant. He served with the 146th Combat Engineer Battalion and landed on Omaha Beach on D-Day at H-Hour + 3 minutes with the mission of destroying the beach obstacles with plastic explosives. He was awarded the ETO ribbon with five stars for major campaigns he took part as well as a bronze arrowhead for the invasion of Normandy. He was awarded the Bronze Star for serving as infantry in the Hurtgen Forest Battle along with an Army Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, World War II Victory Medal, Battle of the Bulge Commemorative Medal, D-Day Commemorative Medal, Combat Service Medal, French Medal of Liberation, Czechoslovakia Medal of Military Merit and The French Legion of Honor. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to St. Luke Catholic Church Building Fund or to St. Jude's Children's Hospital. Visitation with the family will be Monday from 6:00PM to 9:00PM at Woodfin Chapel in Smyrna and Tuesday from 10:00AM to 10:45AM at St. Luke's Catholic Church. 615-459-3254 Online condolences can be made at www.woodfinchapel.com