EUGENE B. "GENE" GUNTER JR.
Sept. 27, 1933-Nov. 1, 2016
Eugene B. "Gene" Gunter Jr., 83, passed away peacefully at his home at North Topsail Island Tuesday, Nov. 1, after an extended illness.
He was born in 1933 in Hamlet, N.C., the only son of the late Eugene B. Gunter Sr. of Sanford, N.C., and the late Sue Fountain Gunter of Tarboro, N.C.
He graduated from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill in 1955 with a degree in political science.
Commissioned in the United States Air Force in 1956, he served until his retirement as a lieutenant colonel in 1978.
Serving as a navigator KC-135 tankers during the majority of his career, he was stationed at Harlingen, Texas, Warner Robbins, Ga., Glasgow, Mont., and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, finally retiring at his last assignment at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, Goldsboro, N.C.
While still in the Air Force, he owned and operated G's Greenworld with his son, Chip.
Following his Air Force career, Gene and Bea moved to North Topsail Island, where his love of flying took a new path. He became a commercial pilot, and owned and operated Topsail Scenic Flights, taking visitors and residents alike high above the island to see its unique beauty.
He mentored many young pilots, who went on to civilian and military careers in aviation.
For his last entrepreneurial endeavor, he became a United States Coast Guard certified captain, and navigated the intracoastal waters at Topsail Island on "Kristy's Cruiser," sharing views of the waterways many would not have been able to see otherwise.
Life on the beach allowed him opportunities to enjoy what he loved, golf, fishing, plants and opening his home to family and friends, always with a perfectly cooked bowl of Sneads Ferry shrimp.
A memorial service to celebrate Gene's life will be held Saturday at 4 p.m. at Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home, with pastor Andy Stovall officiating.
The family will visit with friends immediately following the service at the funeral home, and that evening, will be at the home of his daughter, 115 Susan Circle, Goldsboro, N.C.
Preceding Gene in death was his wife of 45 years, Martha B. Gunter of Caldwell County.
He is survived by his spouse, Chiyoko Gunter; his daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Bob Crenshaw; his son, Chip Gunter; and his daughter and son-in-law, Martie and John Rye all of Goldsboro; his grandchildren, Kristy Borge, David Rye, Jessica Simons, Drake Webster, Ryan Gunter Castrati and Austin Rye; and eight great-grandchildren.
Shumate-Faulk Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for the Gunter family, and online condolences may be directed to www.shumate-faulk.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on November 3, 2016 9:57 AM