E.E. "Gene" McVay

Colonel Gene McVay, aged 84, passed away at home on a Wednesday comforted by his wife, daughter, son-in-law, and “grand-pupper” Max. A fifth-generation Arkansan and second son of George “Due” and Rubye Nell (Barker) McVay, Gene was born in a one-room log home in Mountain Home. His great-great grandfather Joseph P. McVey of Oxford, Arkansas fought in the Union army during the Civil War.

Gene graduated from Mountain Home High School in 1961 where he was a star basketball player and active in campus life. His promising basketball career was sidelined by a shoulder injury, and he enlisted in the United States Air Force. His 34-year career in the USAF and Air National Guard is a demonstration of grit, dedication, integrity, and the providence of God. Rising through the ranks from airman basic to “full bird” colonel, his accomplishments are prodigious. Highlights of his career include being skilled intelligence analyst, a globally qualified flight commander on the C-141 Starlifter where he flew 50 combat missions during the Vietnam conflict… and being selected as the first Air National Guard colonel to command the multinational, multibillion dollar joint-force provisional wing “Cope Thunder” in Alaska. By the time he retired as group commander in 1996, he had worked alongside nearly every guardsman at the 188th Fighter Wing in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Throughout his career as a combat ready fighter pilot, he flew the F-100 Super Sabre, F-101 Voodoo, F-4 Phantom and F-16 Fighting Falcon. He loved being a pilot. He owned a few different civilian aircraft, chartered the Mountain Home chapter of the Civil Air Patrol, and was an instructor for nearly every plane he ever flew. Upon leaving the Air Guard, he continued to fly corporate jets. After piloting his last flight, he avoided air travel even as a passenger, saying “I’ve used up all my luck.”

After retirement, Col McVay stayed connected to his armed services family through lifetime membership in military alumni associations and veterans’ organizations, including the American Legion. An active member of Post 31 and ultimately served as Arkansas State Commander. Leaders from many industries and several countries often sought his opinion, leading him to author a book about leadership.

Gene took his civil responsibilities very seriously, demonstrating community leadership early in his adult life and maintaining a high degree of involvement thereafter. He served on regulatory committees, parks and hospital boards, was elected chairman of his county’s Republican Party, and campaigned for Arkansas state office more than once. Exercising his voice in local, state, and national government was compulsory, as evidenced by his prolific letter writing in earlier years and a large social media following in later years. The extensive network he built over decades resulted in continued post-retirement activities including public speaking, judging, community project leadership, and connecting people. His close friends were lifelong.

A strong believer in education, Gene navigated six colleges during and between military service to earn Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees. He graduated from every officer professional military program available to him. This grit and passion for learning was instilled in his daughter, his “pride and joy.” She also served in the USAF, became a pediatric surgeon and subsequently earned a master’s degree in medical management. He bragged about her to literally everyone – despite her persistent pleas against it.

He loved Arkansas and being in “the great outdoors.” He shared countless pictures and videos of the Natural State, having visited every state park and all 75 counties. He especially enjoyed exploring the backroads near the Buffalo River and North Fork of the White River and had an affinity for the natural beauty of Madison County. He never met an Arkansas stream or river he didn’t like, and recently fostered ties to the community of Mountainburg. His interests were broad, spanning from photography and golf to horses and antiques.

His Christian faith was central to his ethos. He professed his faith by baptism at age 16 and was a long-time member of the Southern Baptist church. He enjoyed studying Biblical history and often regaled us with tales of his exploration of Ephesus and the Middle East while on TDY in Turkey. His desire was to witness the second coming of Christ on earth.

Gene will be remembered for his leadership, his dry and relentless sense of humor, his passion for promoting what is “right,” his fierce friendship, and his steadfast faithfulness to family. He was one of one.

He was preceded in death by his parents of Mountain Home, his brother Louis “Dean” McVay of Kentucky, and his former sister-in-law Shirley McVay Wiseman who remained close until her recent passing. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Magda J (Bostoen) McVay, his daughter Dr. Marcene R McVay Gillam (Doug) of Springdale, and his nephew Larry McVay (Vicki) and family in Lexington, Kentucky.

The funeral service will be October 30 at 9:45 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, followed by interment with military honors at 11 a.m. at the Fort Smith National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, his family requests donations to the American Legion Foundation of Arkansas (P.O. Box 3280, Little Rock, AR 72203 | 1-877-243-9799) marked “In Memory of Col Gene McVay” and specifically designated for Boys’ State or the Constitutional Oratorical Contest.