Tharold "Eugene" Northup

Tharold Eugene Northup (“Gene”) was born on June 19, 1931 in in Eagleville, MO to Tharold Clifford and Verneta Mae (Orme). After graduating high school in Villisca, IA, he attended the University of Maryland while in the US Air Force, which included three months of military training in State College, PA. This is where he met the love of his life, Shirley Mae Northup. Gene served our country from 1951 to 1954 in the Airforce, during which time he helped rebuild Germany under the Marshall Plan after WWII. Gene and Shirley were married in Wiesbaden Germany on July 7, 1953. They were married 57 years. 

After leaving Germany, Gene earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from State University of Iowa in 1958 and a Master of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1963. While in Tennessee, Gene also attended the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Engineering, where he completed all required courses. 

Gene and Shirley moved to California in 1965, where Gene worked at General Atomics for 28 years holding a number of managerial positions including Reactor Design Manager. As an active member and past President of the American Concrete Institute (ACI), Gene had many opportunities to travel. He and Shirley enjoyed lots of adventures together including trips to Japan, India, Venezuela, the Caribbean, Switzerland, and Mexico. They also spent many summers with their children, exploring the U.S. by motorhome. In winters, they enjoyed skiing at Lake Tahoe. 

During his time at General Atomics, Gene was also active on a number of boards and committees, including several California State Civil Engineering boards. After retiring from General Atomics, Gene partnered with others to form three companies: Leading Edge Engineering in 1993, Cutting Edge Products in 1997, and BreezElectric LLC in 2000. 

In retirement, Gene loved to tinker, which kept his mind sharp. He was frequently designing, creating, or helping his children and grandchildren with household remodels and tasks. He loved to do woodworking, product development and playing music on his keyboard. At age 80 he learned to ride a motorcycle - a lifelong dream - that took him to all corners of the United States. He traveled across the country every year visiting family and friends. In 2019, Gene participated in the Ragbrai - a 427 mile multi-day biking event in Iowa. Later that year he suffered from a stroke, which luckily was caught early. Even though it affected his speech it did not deter him from living his life to the fullest. Many times, he said “I still have things I want to do” so that’s exactly what he did. He continued to travel, he continued to tinker and worked hard every day. His greatest joy in life was spending time with the people he loved, and he made it a point to be present for as many important life events and celebrations as he could. He never refused a bowl of homemade ice cream, loved a couch nap, and always had pockets full of change to jingle. His favorite saying was “can’t never did anything” and he lived this philosophy every day of his life. 

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, Tharold Clifford and Verneta Northup, his wife Shirley, and his sister, Bernice Bates. Here to cherish his memory is his brother, Rev Richard Northup and his wife Marlene; Gene’s three children, Debbie Rosenkoetter and her husband Dave, Craig Northup and his wife Brenda, and Todd Northup and his wife Britt; 7 grandchildren (who knew him as “Pappy”): Cody Northup and his wife Ashley, Jessie Armstrong and her husband Joe, Carlie Northup, Heather Siri (Rosenkoetter) and her husband Brandon, Kyle Rosenkoetter and his wife Monique, Talia and Lena Northup; and 9 great grandchildren, who knew him as “GGPA”: Sutton, Holden, Mabel, Colt, Kinsley, Emery, Quincey, David & Autumn. 

Gene will be cremated and his ashes scattered next to Shirley’s by immediate family in a sea burial off the coast of Point Loma, San Diego in the Spring of 2025.

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