More detail on this person: Christopher Craig Genna of Kent, Washington passed away from complications of Multiple Systems Atrophy on January 19, 2025 at the VA Medical Center in Seattle. He was 78. Chris was born on August 12, 1946 in Salem, Oregon, to Vincent M. Genna and Lois M. (Gregson) Genna. In 1954 the family moved to Bend, OR, where he graduated from Bend High School in 1964. He attended Oregon State University until he enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1967, to become a Warrant Officer Helicopter Pilot. While stationed at Fort Carson in Colorado Springs in 1968, he met Mary Ruth Smeins. In Vietnam, Chris's UH-1H (Huey) helicopter was shot down on April 25, 1969, he was seriously injured by a rocket-propelled grenade explosion on April 26, and evacuated on April 27. Chris was awarded the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and the Army Air Medal. After recuperating from his injuries, he returned briefly to Colorado Springs and married Mary on July 15, 1969. They moved to Fort Wolters, TX, where he served as a ground school instructor. Their daughter, Jennifer, was born there in 1970. Chris was discharged from the Army later in 1970, and the family moved to his hometown of Bend for a short time, and then to Eugene, where he earned his Bachelor's degree from the University of Oregon in 1973. He got his first journalism job in Sioux Falls, SD, near Mary's family, where they lived for about a year. They then relocated to Astoria, OR, where he worked for The Daily Astorian for many years. In 1986 they moved to Kent, WA, where he worked for the Valley Daily News, which became the South County Journal, and ultimately the King County Journal. Following a restructuring that led to his layoff in 2004, he did freelance writing, looked after his ailing father, worked for the U.S. Census, volunteered with Disabled American Veterans, helped maintain the extended family property in Central Oregon, traveled, and enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren. He is survived by Mary Genna, his wife of 55 years, his daughter and son-in-law Jennifer and Frank Raymond III, his grandchildren Claire and Colin Raymond, his brother Michael R. Genna, and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
This information was last updated 03/27/2025
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Date posted on this site: 10/13/2025
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