US ARMY, VIETNAM

Gene Shirley Lucas passed away at home on Tuesday. He was married to Georgia A. Lucas.
Gene was born in Georgia and graduated from the Thornwell Home and School for Children, Clinton, S.C. After high school, he attended Clemson Univ. earning a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Dairy Science. He entered the Army in 1968 where he attended training for supply, jungle warfare, and air defense artillery.
Gene was a retired Lt Col. and Vietnam War veteran who earned numerous commendations, some of which include: Purple Heart, Bronze Star with a 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Army Commendation Medal with a 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, Vietnam Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.
Some of his peacetime duty stations included Ft. Meade, Grafenwohr Ger., Crete Creece-where he served as the U.S. Commander of the NATO installation, and Harrisburg.
He was an advocate for veterans and worked tirelessly to help other veterans deal with their unique and difficult problems. Each week, Gene would meet with veterans at the Members 1st Retired Seniors Coffee Corner to listen to their problems, offer advice, and help in any way he could. No problem was too big or too small for Gene to offer his help.
Gene was also the former Executive Dir. of the Cumberland County Chapter of the American Red Cross. In that Capacity, he implemented programs for emergency assistance for shelter, fuel, and food for those who had undergone personal tragedies. He also established the Red Cross Blood Services in the Susquehanna Valley, joined the Marines in working on Toys for Tots, and helped the United Way with charitable fundraisers.
Gene was also an active member and volunteer at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral.
He was uniquely kind, fun-loving, and generous. Gene always gave without expectation, loved passionately, willingly helped everybody, and was a model husband and father. Those of us who had the great fortune of sharing our lives with him count ourselves as some of the luckiest people in the world. Though our time together was far too brief, the impact on our lives will last an eternity.
And proud of him we will forever be.
Gene is survived by his wife Georgia; two sons- Jeff of Lemoyne and Mike of Dallas, TX; his daughter-in-law, Deborah of Lemoyne; two brothers- Howard of Stone Mountain, GA and Alexander Wade of Jonesboro, GA; his sister in law Martha; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law Harriet and John Toledo of Texas City, TX; his niece, Taylor; his nephew, Tyler; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Services will be held Wed. Dec. 22, at 10 AM in the Egger Funeral Home Inc. Newville, with Fr. Yanni, Fr. Costa, and Fr. Mark presiding over the services. Burial with full military honors will follow in Ft. Indiantown Gap.

Published in Patriot-News on December 19, 2010