Vernie Christian Gehron, 95, Fort Wayne, Ind., died Feb. 16, 2012, at Covington Health and Rehab Center.

He was born Sept. 2, 1916, in Montezuma, to Charles and Suszzannah Deyo Gehron. He married Helen F. Johnson, who died in 2003.

Surviving are three children, Vernell R. (Peter) Fettig, Fort Wayne, Martha S. Needling, Fort Wayne, and William F. (Kathy) Gehron, Scotts, Mich.; two siblings, Clara Louise (Charles) Willis, Siloam Springs, Ark., and Clyde L. (Bobbye) Gehron, DeRidder, La.; a sister-in-law, Ruthe Jones, Madeira, Fla.; five grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Also deceased is a sister, Ferneva H. Gehron.

A graduate of John Brown University, he was project manager at Wright Patterson Air Force Base during World War II, in the development of the ball turret for the B-17 Bomber. He was the defense vice president at Bowser where he developed the air-to-air refueling system. He retired as president of G&R Consultants.

Service was held Feb. 20, 2012, at Hockemeyer & Miller Funeral Home, Fort Wayne, Ind.