Gene Gammill

Gene Gammill, age 83, of Canton, GA passed away Sunday, January 25, 2026 at Northside Hospital Cherokee.

Otto Gene Gammill Jr., known to all as Gene, was born on January 27, 1942, in El Dorado, Arkansas, the eldest of three children born to O.G. and Mary Purdue Gammill. Growing up alongside his brother John and sister Susan, Gene displayed an early engineering mindset that would shape his remarkable life of service, adventure, and family devotion.

After graduating high school in El Dorado, Gene pursued his passion for mechanics at Louisiana Tech University in Ruston, Louisiana, earning a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. It was there he met Anna Kathryn Whitman, the woman he instantly knew was meant for him. Following graduation, they married, and the couple relocated to Port Arthur, Texas, where Gene began his career at Gulf Oil in field operations, while Anna taught school.

As the Vietnam War intensified, Gene answered the call to serve, joining the U.S. Air Force through Officer Training School, where he earned his commission and wings as a pilot. He initially flew the massive C-133 transport aircraft, delivering critical supplies across the United States, to Vietnam, and Europe. Later transitioning to helicopter training, he mastered the HH-53 Super Stallion and was assigned to the 371st Aerospace Rescue and Recovery Squadron (the famed Jolly Green Giants) in Da Nang, Vietnam. There, Gene flew daring combat search-and-rescue missions to recover downed aviators under intense enemy fire.

During one mission, his helicopter was shot down. Rescued by a support aircraft, Gene was then ordered to return with the maintenance crew to repair the downed HH-53 and personally fly it back to base—an extraordinary act of courage and resolve that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross Medal.

After completing his tour, Gene retired from the Air Force and, still drawn to the skies, joined a then-small airline: Delta Air Lines. Over the next 29 years, he advanced from Flight Engineer on the Boeing 727 to Captain on the Boeing 767, retiring with a legacy of professionalism and skill.

While Gene served in Vietnam, Anna returned to Hope, Arkansas, where their son David Howard was born. Three years later, in Marietta, Georgia, their daughter Marianne arrived. Anna devoted herself to raising their children as a stay-at-home mother while Gene flew routes across the country. In his time off, Gene cultivated passions for high-performance cars—starting with several Mazda sports models in the late 1970s and early 1980s before becoming a dedicated Corvette enthusiast, owning more than half a dozen over the years. He also excelled in competitive shooting, generously teaching his children, grandchildren, and countless others at ranges and competitions alike.

Tragically, Gene lost his beloved first wife, Anna, to cancer in 1989. In time, he found new joy and companionship when he met Katheryn Henderson at Eastside Baptist Church in Marietta, Georgia. They married in 1990 and shared 36 loving years together. Through this union, Gene gained a son, Charles Ingrum, and a daughter, Julie Brown.

In 1995, Gene and Katheryn built their family home in Canton, Georgia—forever known as the “Garrison Trail Home”—a warm gathering place for their blended family of four children and ten grandchildren. They were longtime members of Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Canton.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, O.G. and Mary Purdue Gammill; his brother, John Gammill; and his first wife, Anna Kathryn Whitman Gammill.

He is survived by his devoted wife, Katheryn Walkley Gammill; his sister, Susan Ward; his children, David Gammill (Shannon), Marianne Kelley, Charles Ingrum (Christi), and Julie Brown (Anthony); and his cherished grandchildren: Anna Gammill, Luke Gammill, Nathan Kelley, Madison Kelley, Eli Ingrum, Tripp Ingrum, Tyler Brown, Katie Brown, Connor Brown, and Abbie Brown.

Gene lived a life defined by courage in combat, dedication in the cockpit, love for his family across generations, and a generous spirit that touched countless lives. His legacy of service, adventure, and unwavering faith endures in the hearts of all who knew him.

Funeral services are scheduled for 11:00 AM, on Saturday, January 31, 2026, from the Chapel of South Canton Funeral Home with Rev. Dr. Jon A. Pirtle officiating and United States Air Force Honors. Interment will follow at Kennesaw Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM to 8:00 PM, Friday, January 30, 2026, and from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 31, 2026 at South Canton Funeral Home.

South Canton Funeral Home, dedicated to the families we serve, 770-479-3377. Online condolences may be made to the family at www.thescfh.com