Eugene Luke "Gene" Croxton, Jr. (1931-2018)

"Gene, known as Opa to his grandchildren, passed away peacefully on Friday, December 14, 2018. Born March 6, 1931 in Montgomery, Alabama, he received a BS degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alabama, where he was recognized as a Fellow in 1988 and was further honored as a Centennial Fellow of the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department in 2010. He was employed by Ethyl Corporation for 40 years.  Gene was an avid pilot who loved Alabama football, his chemical engineering class reunions, and beach trips with his family.  He was the consummate gentleman, easy to laugh, and was devoted to his friends and family, who will miss him greatly. He is survived by his wife, Heide; son, Steve Croxton and daughter-in-law Gayle, daughter, Carolyn Mashburn and son-in-law Kevin, and stepson, Nils Breckoff; grandchildren, John, Martha Ann, Luke and Daniel Croxton, Bradley and Jack Mashburn; step-grandchildren, Genevieve, Andrew and Emily Breckoff; niece, Ann Kendall Burns McMoy Rahill; nephew, Jimmy Burns; great-nieces, Shelley and Brooke McMoy and Meredith McMoy Ingram; and cousin, Rhonda Kay Huffman.  He was preceded in death by his first wife, Martha duTartre Cotton Croxton; son, David Stirling Croxton; sister, Francis Irene Croxton Burns; and his parents, Eugene Luke Croxton Sr. and Martha Ella Bates Croxton.  Visitation will be on Friday, December 21, 2018 at St. James Episcopal Church, 205 North Fourth Street in Baton Rouge, from 9:30 a.m. until a funeral service at 11:00 a.m. officiated by The Rev. Christopher R. Duncan and The Rev. G. Nelson Tennison. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. The family would like to extend special thanks to Kindred at Home and Amedisys Hospice for their loving care. In lieu of flowers, donations would be appreciated in the memory of Eugene Croxton to St. Vincent DePaul Baton Rouge (svdpbr.org/donate) or to your favorite charity.