Friendly Gene Compton

Friendly Gene Compton, age 87, of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on May 9, 2023. Gene was born in Dozier, Alabama on August 13, 1935, to Friendly Shelton and Sue Tranum Compton. Gene graduated from Dozier High School in 1954 and served the U.S. Air Force in Texas, Africa, and the UK. After completing his military service in 1959, he returned to Birmingham and enrolled in Alverson-Draughon Business College while beginning a longtime career in insurance sales. His first home in Birmingham proved to be a divine appointment where he met the love of his life, Linda Goldman. They married in 1962 and moved to Mobile for Gene to open and manage a new sales office. A year later they returned to Birmingham where Gene founded and ran The Compton Insurance Agency for many years before moving with his wife and two young sons to Pell City, Alabama to build a horse farm and garden home community known as Steeplechase Farms. After his son, Daryl, discovered his love for horses at age 8, he became a juvenile exhibitor in regional, state, and national horse shows until his high school graduation in 1986. Meanwhile his youngest son, Jay, turned his passion for tennis into a full tennis scholarship to Jefferson State College in 1991.

During those busy years, Gene and Linda also served as Youth Directors at the First United Methodist Church of Pell City, and worked tirelessly supporting their sons at horse shows, tennis matches, Quarterback Club, and Band Boosters. After 24 years in Pell City, Gene and Linda moved back to Birmingham in 2001 to begin their semi-retired life. Gene joined his sons at DEC Fire & Water Restoration and enjoyed serving there until his death.

Gene was preceded in death by his father, F.S. Compton, mother, Sue Compton, and his three siblings. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Linda Compton; sons Daryl (Elizabeth) Compton; Jay Compton; grandsons Luke, Mason, and Trey Compton; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 12pm Tuesday, May 16th at the Oxmoor Road Campus of Trinity United Methodist Church in Homewood, AL with visitation and refreshments beginning at 11am. The burial with Military Honors will be held at the Alabama National Cemetery in Montevallo, AL following the service.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ridoutsvalleychapel.com for the Compton family.