Eugene Lloyd Overcash, 91, of London Mills, IL, passed away Saturday, December 31, 2022 in his home surrounded by his loving family. Gene was born May 22, 1931 in rural Canton, IL, the son of Lloyd and Mabel (Shumaker) Overcash. He was raised and educated in the Spoon River area and graduated with the first class of Spoon River High School in 1949. He married Shirley Way in 1951 and she survives.
Surviving Gene is his wife of 71 years and 8 months, Shirley; children, Steve (Bella) Overcash, Claudia Starr, Dean (Janice) Overcash, Lloyd (Patti) Overcash, Susan (Dave) Smith; 18 grandchildren; 43 great-grandchildren; 3 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; in-laws Forest & Sarah (Thurman) Way; Harry and sister-in-law Francis (Ulm) Overcash; son-in-law Bill Starr, and his beloved dog and faithful companion, Shelby.
Gene was active in the Air National Guard for 3 years following high school. He farmed his entire life and drove a school bus for 37 years. He was loved by all of the children he bused on their routes to school and during all of the extracurricular activities- sports and other events. He was an active member of the London Mills United Methodist Church, serving on numerous boards and committees during his time there. He was a leader of the Young Hickory Nutcracker 4-H group for a number of years. His greatest accomplishment and joy were his family whom he loved to spend time with.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 7, 2023 in the London Mills United Methodist Church, London Mills, IL. Friends may call beginning at 9:00 a.m. prior to the services. Interment will be in West Midway Cemetery, rural London Mills. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the London Mills United Methodist Church Stained Glass Window Fund or the Spoon River Valley Music Department and left in the care of the funeral home. Wise Family Funeral Home-Avon is handling the arrangements. For more information or to leave an online condolence please visit our website at www.wisefamilyfuneralhome.com
