Gene Moore Cushman, age 103, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on January 11, 2024. He was the second child of George Hawley Cushman, Jr., and Pearl Moore Cushman.

Gene was born in Chattanooga, TN on September 24, 1920. Being from a military family, he moved often to other Army bases with his parents. He later went to Baylor School in Chattanooga, Tennessee for four years and graduated in 1938. Following graduation, he attended the University of North Carolina and was also a member Phi Gamma Delta. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1943 and trained as a fighter pilot, became an instructor in air gunnery, and later flew the Berlin Airlift in 1948. He joined the Strategic Air Command in 1951 and fought during the Cold War and retired in 1969 as Lt. Colonel. He flew 32 Air Force planes and 16 civilian planes.

Gene was indeed one of the Greatest Generation giving over 26 years of service to the United States of America.

Following his retirement, Gene moved to Birmingham, Alabama and began a new career as a General Agent at Liberty National Life Insurance Company for 15 years. At the end of his service there, he became a General Agent at Protective Life Insurance Company and became a life member of the Million Dollar Roundtable Club.

Gene served as President of the Beaux Arts Krewe, member of Willow Point Golf Club, Birmingham Exchange, a member at Independent Presbyterian Church, and the Country Club of Birmingham where he loved playing golf with his buddies. At age 67, he shot a score of 67, and at age 95, he shot a score of 74. From ages 68 through age 100, he shot over his age only one time!

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his bother George Hawley Cushman III, sister Suzanne Cushman, his wife of 53 years Eleanor Sample Cushman and her daughter, Vivian Sherrill Hutto.

Gene is survived by his children: Bonnie Black (Jimmy), Mark Cushman (Laverna), Stacy Cushman Conner (Paul), and his stepdaughter, Jane Sherrill Wade (Louis F., Jr.), 12 grandchildren, who he adored and was always so interested in all they did and accomplished, and 26 great grandchildren whom he knew all by their names.

Gene lived at the Cahaba Ridge Retirement Community in Vestavia for over 2 years where he had many friends and met his constant companion, Lynette McCary. They enjoyed watching football and many movies together as well as meals and parties with their friends at Cahaba Ridge.

Gene and his family give so many thanks to all the staff members at Cahaba Ridge Retirement Community and the many Care Givers at Right At Home Care that loved and cared for him.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, January 26, 2024 at Faith Presbyterian Church, 4601 Valleydale Rd., Birmingham, AL 35242.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to The Center Of Executive Leadership, 200 Union Hill Dr., Suite 200, Birmingham, AL 35209.  

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