MCGOWAN EUGENE

LTC Eugene Mcgowan was a VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 03/03/2019 at the age of 89.4
Marion, IL
Flight Classes 54-B and 54-C
Date of Birth 10/24/1929
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with 13 AVN BN in 66-67
Call sign in Vietnam DELTA BN
This information was provided by Obit

More detail on this person: MARION _ Eugene McGowan, 89, of Marion, passed away on Sunday, March 3, 2019, at 11:16 a.m. at his home in Marion. Eugene was born Oct. 24, 1929, in Creal Springs, the son of Ralph and Myrtle May (Hood) McGowan. He married Gypsy J. Allen on Aug. 7, 1951, at Cana Church and together they have shared over 67 years of marriage. Eugene was a man of God and the oldest living member and deacon of Mt. Moriah General Baptist Church in Creal Springs. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Williamson County Shrine club. He was retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel, where he bravely served 20 years during the Vietnam War and the Korean conflict. He was a helicopter pilot transporting troops during mission and various generals to headquarters. He had a near-death experience where his mission was changed and the transport he was supposed to pilot was destroyed. He received the Bronze star for bravery. He had nine lives and truly enjoyed talking about choppers. Once retired, he began another career managing buses in Herrin, Johnston City, Cairo and Marion for RW Harmon Buses. He was a witty man who enjoyed tinkering with things around his shop and camping in Texas. He will be dearly missed. Survivors include his wife, Gypsy McGowan, of Marion; daughter, Cheryl Ann Rister (Ivan), of Harrisburg; daughter, Eugina Axe (David), of Goreville; three grandchildren, Pamela Sue Rister of Morganfield, Kentucky, Savannah Jeralds of Goreville, and Tiffany Rinne of St. Louis; four great-grandchildren, Kren Lee Rister, Karis Monique Taborn, Kean Tyrone Taborn and Braiden Michael Connor; two great-great-grandchildren, "Princess Leia" and "Fern Gulley;" sister, Melba Mausey of Crab Orchard; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded by his parents; son, Michael Allen McGowan; three grandchildren, Ivan Rister Jr., Timara Nichole Rister and Nicholas Shawn Rister; sister, Mary Louise McGowan; and twin sister, Pauline Holmes. Funeral services will be Thursday, March 7, 2019, at 11 a.m. at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, with Pastor Ben Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Egyptian Memorial Gardens. Military rites will be presented by members of the Herrin/Carterville VFW/American Legion Post Ritual Team and the National Guard Flag Detail Unit. Visitation will be Wednesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home. For those who prefer, memorials may be made to Mt. Moriah General Baptist Church. Envelopes will be available and accepted at Mitchell-Hughes Funeral Home, 800 N. Market St., Marion, IL 62959. For additional information or to sign the guest memorial register, please visit www.hughesfuneralhomes.com.

Burial information: Egyptian Memorial Gardens

This information was last updated 04/11/2019

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024