Eugene Wesley Hamic

Eugene was the sixth of seven siblings. He was born in Bessemer, Alabama, on September 3, 1929, and raised on a tenant farm in Shelby County, Alabama. He graduated from Jemison High School in 1948.

He briefly served in the National Guard but then joined the US Air Force in the early 1950s. His duty tours included assignments to Kimpo Air Force Base during the Korean War, the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and Wiesbaden AFB in West Germany. He concluded his military career in 1973 while serving at the US Air Force Academy and after having achieved the then highest possible enlisted rank of Chief Master Sergeant.

Upon retirement, Eugene commenced a second career in the retail furniture business. He began as an Assistant Store Manager for Sterchi Bros. and retired as a Regional Manager for the Heilig-Meyers Furniture Company.

Through the course of his career and thereafter, Eugene was most proud of and devoted to his family of creation. He married Betty Ruth Harden of Cullman, Alabama, in 1955. Betty and Eugene raised two sons, Mitchell and Jeffrey, who were both born at Craig AFB in Selma, Alabama. They guided their sons through life to include graduations from Auburn University and the University of Tennessee respectively.

Sadly, Eugene was preceded in death by his wife, Betty (90) and son, Jeff (54). He is survived by his son, Mitchell, his daughter-in-law, Tracy, and his grandchildren, Christopher, Cory, and Amy Hamic.

Eugene’s parents, Martin E. Hamic and Sally King Hamic, and his siblings, Edna, Estelle, Edmond, Edward, Ernest, and Elbert have also preceded him in death. All of his brothers served in the military including three who saw combat in WWII and one who was KIA.

Apart from his devotion to family and pride in country, Eugene loved to golf. His association with the membership of Beaver Brook Golf and Country Club from the mid-90s till his passing was a source of great joy.

A visitation will be held for Eugene on Wednesday, April 17, 2024 at 1pm at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home with a full military graveside service to be held at 3pm at Whispering Waters Pavilion inside of Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, 5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville,