Willie Hughes

Funeral services for Willie G. "Gene" Hughes 87, Junction City will be 10 a.m., Wednesday, April 1, 2009 at First Baptist Church, with Rev. James Callaway officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at Highland cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8pm Tuesday, March 30. 2009 at Penwell-Gabel Johnson Chapel, 203 N. Washington. Gene passed away March 28, 2009 while in Hospice Care. Memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, 624 N. Jefferson, Junction City, KS 66441 and or Geary County Healthcare and Hospice Foundation, PO Box 3015, Junction City, KS 66441.

Gene was born in Geneva County, Alabama on Sept 8, 1921 to Ruebin Eugene and Susan Frances Hughes. One of ten children, Gene had six sisters and three brothers. Sisters were Mamie Williams, Mazaree Grissitt, Tressie Gallaway, Lessie Seay, Myrtle Brannon and Mary Lee Minger. Brothers were Thomas D., James F. and Henry M. Hughes. All of Gene's brothers and sisters preceded him in death. Also preceding him in death are his mother and father.

Gene married Eunice Marie Neis at Ft. Riley on August 1, 1955. Eunice resides in Junction City. They had three daughters; Eunice Karmann (Terry), of Council Grove, Deborah Tice (John), of Tecumseh and Catherine Nagle (Edward), of Junction City. Gene and Eunice have five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Gene served in the Navy and fought in WWII, served in the army and fought during the Korean conflict, and finished his military career in the Air Force. He served a total of over 21 years and was a very proud veteran. After retiring from the Air Force, he moved his family back to Junction City in 1965 and worked with Amber Electric and then Civil Service until 1983. He was a member of the Highland Park Baptist Church in Topeka, where he was an ordained deacon and served as Chairman of the Trustee Committee. After returning to Junction City, he became a member of the First Baptist Church of Junction City.