Gene W. Stewart

The funeral for Gene Wilson Stewart Sr., 75, of Athens will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Central Church of Christ with Bill Perkins officiating. The body will lie in state from 10-11 a.m. Wednesday at the church. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

Visitation is from 6-9 tonight at McConnell Funeral Home.

He passed away Monday, June 13, 2011, at Decatur General Hospital.

Gene Wilson Stewart Sr. was born Dec. 12, 1935, in Limestone County to Will Stewart and Thelma Owens Stewart. He served three years in the U.S. Army. He worked at Redstone Arsenal for more than 20 years. He was a charter member of Central Church of Christ and a past elder.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mariana; and one brother, Will Stewart Jr.

Mr. Stewart is survived by his sons, Rocky Stewart and wife Suzanne of Birmingham, and Steven Stewart and wife Shenna of Athens; grandchildren, Wil Stewart, Thomas Stewart, Julia Stewart, Even Stewart and Sam Stewart; sisters, Martha Johnston of Flintstone, Ga., and Mary Wilbourn of Decatur; many nieces and nephews; and special friend, Betty Butler of Athens.

Pallbearers will be Wil Stewart, Sam Stewart, Thomas Stewart, Even Stewart, Butch Freeman, Tom Corum, bill Wilbourn and Danny Crawford. Honorary pallbearers are Horace Freeman and Julia Stewart.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Central Church of Christ building fund and Hospice of Limestone County.