Obituaries

Grover “Gene” Eugene Myers III, born November 21, 1946, passed away Monday, September 30, 2024, with his wife Helen and son Mark by his side.

Born in Portsmouth, Virginia, to Grover and Nellie Myers Jr., Gene was an incredible father and husband who was just as boisterous as he was well-loved. Some of his favorite things were skiing, sitting out on the porch with a great glass of wine and his beloved dogs at his feet, smoking cigars with his boys, and traveling the world with his loving wife Helen and friends. He didn’t always wear his heart on his sleeve, but his short stories, poems, and approach to photography reflected just how much beauty he saw in the world.
He graduated from Clemson University in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Industrial Management. His time as a linebacker made him a lifetime Tigers football fan. In 1981, he received his Master’s in Political Science with a focus on International Relations from Utah State University.

Gene was incredibly proud of his service to his country. He served in the United States Air Force for 20 years, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was an HH-43 helicopter pilot flying rescue missions during the war in Vietnam, then transitioned to fixed-wing aircraft, piloting the T-38 and, ultimately, the B-52 Bomber. He later served as an HQ SAC Strategic Policy and Doctrine Analyst and was a Research Fellow with the Airpower Research Institute, Center for Aerospace Doctrine, Research, and Education (CADRE) Air University at Maxwell AFB Alabama. During the final years of his military career, he served as Chief of the European Theater Missile Defense Plans and Policy Directorate, Headquarters U.S. European Command in Vaihingen, Germany.

He is survived by his wife, Helen Myers; sons Gregory Myers of Phoenix, AZ, and Mark Myers of Los Angeles, CA; grandson Asher Twitchell; former wife and friend Terrie Seitz; and cousins Kathy Batkin, Joann Rose and Cliff Kevil.
Gene’s Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, October 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. at Peninsula Funeral Home, 11144 Warwick Boulevard, Newport News.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the following organizations: Cane Corso Rescue via canecorsorescue.org and the Alzheimer’s Association via act.alz.org.

Arrangements are under the care of Peninsula Funeral Home.