Cecil Gene Craghead

Gene born on January 31, 1926, in Fulton, MO the son of Walter and Lora (Linton) Craghead who preceded him in death. He married Edith Diehl on June 13, 1946, who preceded him in death on May 26, 2024.

At the age of 18, Gene was drafted in May 1944 and attended bootcamp at Camp Roberts in California. After stops in Fort Benning, Georgia and New York, Gene took the 12-day journey to France. He served under General Patton in the 3rd Army 71st Division. They walked across France, Germany, and half of Austria while deployed. Gene fought in seven major battles along that journey, including one that lasted six weeks without a change of clothes or opportunity to take his shoes off. In another incident, he was hit by a piece of shrapnel that hit his chest but was stopped by his copy of the New Testament Bible, which saved his life. Gene earned two awards while serving the Bronze Star for Bravery and the Good Conduct Medal. He also served as first and second scout. The Bronze Star for Bravery was for an assignment when he was one of 39 soldiers sent out to cross the Rhine River in Germany as a decoy while a larger company crossed elsewhere. The soldiers sent out 13 people in each of the three lifeboats. One boat didn’t return; another came back with only two soldiers and Gene came back with 11. He returned home on June 6, 1946.

After returning home from service, Gene worked at the shoe factory in Fulton for several years before working for the City of Fulton for almost 27 years. Gene was a Charter Member of Southside Baptist Church, where he was an active member up until his later years. The three things that Gene loved the most was: God, his Country and family.

Gene is survived by two sons, Richard Craghead and Dale (Christie) Craghead; 3 grandchildren, Jennifer Salmons (Brent), Chad Craghead, Casey Craghead (Amber); granddaughter-in-law, Amy Craghead; 7 great grandchildren, Jacquelyn Salmons, Jessica Radford (Neil), Janae Henke (Wesley), Joshua Craghead, Kayley Craghead, Zac Craghead and Madison Craghead and 1 great-great grandchild, Weslynn Henke. Gene was preceded in death by two brothers, Keith Craghead and Bill Craghead. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 31, 2025 from 10:00 am – 11:00 am at Southside Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow at 11:00 am at the church with Pastor Tyler Murphy officiating. Burial will be in Callaway Memorial Gardens, Fulton, MO with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Southside Baptist Church – Playground Fund, c/o Debo Funeral Home, 833 Court St, Fulton, MO 65251.