Eugene D. "Gene" McEathron, 66, died March 24 at the Mission Hospital in Asheville, N.C., following a sudden illness. He lived in Butler from 1981 to 1993.

Born in Ogdensburg, N.Y., Aug. 13, 1943, he was the son of the late Ernest McEathron and Ella Hazelton Williams.

Mr. McEathron served in the U.S. Navy before attending Clarkson University in Potsdam, N.Y., where he received a degree in engineering. He worked as a mechanical engineer for many years at PPG in Shelby, N.C., before retiring in 2002 as head of the research and development department.

Mr. McEathron was an avid tinkerer and inventor and is responsible for numerous patents.

He enjoyed working in his shop, helping family and friends with home projects, camping on the ocean shore, camping and hiking in the Smoky Mountains, making and drinking his own wine, and spending quality time with his wife and many family members.

He is survived by his wife Rose McEathron; his mother, Ella Hazelton Williams; two sons, Daniel McEathron and his wife, Jody, and Jason Johns; three daughters, Ellen Winchell and her husband, David, Dennise Gould and her husband, William, and Melissa Auvil and her husband, Mark; seven brothers, Ernest McEathron Jr. and his wife, Linda, Richard McEathron and his wife, Cindy, Ray McEathron, Daniel Williams and his wife, Connie, Michael Williams and his wife, Debbie, Edward Williams and his wife, Debbie and Steve Williams and his wife, Ronda; and five sisters, Ruth Mead and her husband, Ron, Linda Manchester and her husband Paul, Norma Frankie and her husband, John, Nora Jean Love and her husband, Herbert, and Rita Clarke and her husband, Tom. Seven grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one brother, Theodore Williams.

<B>MCEATHRON</B> — A celebration of life for Eugene D. "Gene" McEathron, who died Wednesday, March 24, 2010, was Saturday.Memorial contributions may be made to the Rutherford County Animal Shelter 578 Laurel Hill Drive, Rutherfordton, NC 28139.