MERRITT ISLAND, Fla. - Major General Eugene B. Sterling, USAF Retired, returned to his home base in heaven on May 31 2018. He took off peacefully from his home with his family around him to wish him Godspeed.
Gene was born March 30,1920 in Crisfield, Md. He was a well-known high school and college athlete. He attended Salisbury State Teachers College in Salisbury, Md. from 1938 to 1940. In Jan. 1942, he entered the aviation cadet program and graduated Jan. 14, 1943. On that day, he received his pilot wings and married his long-time sweetheart, Lucille Callena Parks. They were married for 69 years until Lucille passed away in 2012.
In Sept. 1943, he flew one of the first C-46 transport aircraft from the U.S. to India by way of South America, Africa and the Middle East. He flew war supplies and troops to China over the Himalayan Mountains ("The Hump"). In May and June 1944, he supported Merrill's Marauders in the Burma campaign by airdropping supplies from C-47 aircraft. Later, in the battle to regain control of Myitkyina airfield from the Japanese, he participated in the airdropping of troops and the evacuation of wounded to India. He returned to the U.S. and completed C-54 training and then flew the North Atlantic Crescent Caravan route, airlifting supplies to England and France and evacuating wounded soldiers. He returned to civilian life and received a bachelor's degree from Washington College in Chestertown, Md., and a master's degree in public school administration from Johns Hopkins University. For the next two years he was a high school teacher in Baltimore. In July 1951, during the Korean War, Gene was recalled to active duty, and he served until his retirement in 1978. He was a command pilot with over 6500 flying hours piloting the C-46, C-47, C-54, C-121, C-124, C-141 and C-5. His military decorations include the Air Force Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with one oak leaf cluster, and Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster. He was an active member of his community through his involvement with the South Merritt Island Property Owners Association, Air Force Association, Daedalians, Military Officers Association, and by helping to author the Save Our Homes Amendment ensuring its inclusion on the ballot. He was also an active member of the Kiwi Tennis Club where he played tennis until the age of 95.
He is survived by his children, Donna Greer, Gail Sterling-Joubert (Pierre), and Barry Eugene Sterling (Renee); and grandsons, Matthew Sterling and Timothy Robert Joubert; and many nieces and nephews.
Interment will be at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. A visitation was held at Beach Funeral Home in Indian Harbour Beach on Thursday, June 7, 2018 between 6 and 8 p.m.