Arthur Eugene Sullivan, Jr.

On the morning of Saturday, January 27, 2018, Arthur Eugene “Gene” Sullivan, Jr., 88, went to be with his Lord and Savior.

Gene was a lifelong resident of Houston County, Georgia born to the late Arthur Sr. and Maude Akins Sullivan. He was raised during the Great Depression and as a young boy worked hard on his family’s farm. A U.S. Army veteran, Gene proudly served his country during the Korean War receiving a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Still able to fit into his uniform, Gene would wear it on special occasions. With a humble heart, he and his beloved wife Betty would spend every Veterans Day placing flags on the grave of other veterans in local cemeteries.

Gene was a very honest, hardworking, faithful, and devoted husband and father. He often worked several jobs to provide for his family while his wife stayed home to raise their children. Following his military service, Gene was a long distance truck driver, driving to 48 states in the United States. He had 33 years of federal service including naval ordinance plant in Macon, Georgia and later at Robins Air Force Base. Being very mechanically inclined, he enjoyed time spent working on his farm. Gene loved tractors and trucks; he proudly drove his 1955 GMC pickup truck that he had bought brand new. He had a passion for animals of all kinds especially his cats; he would even care for and feed wildlife and stray animals. Gene loved being outdoors; however, his greatest joy was found in time spent with his beloved family. He enjoyed picking on and teasing his family and researching his family history. Gene was a longtime faithful member of First Baptist Church of Centerville and the Senior Adult Sunday school class.

Along with parents, his sisters, Clyde Husseni, Geraldine Burbage, Virginia Suits, Fay Evans, and his beloved parents-in-law, Amon and Mary Elizabeth Stallworth, preceded him in death.

His memory will forever be treasured by his loving wife of 66 years, Betty Sullivan of Warner Robins; children, Betty Jo Wade (Frank) of Byron, Mary Ann Champagne of Warner Robins, Debra Hopkins of Warner Robins, Denise Sullivan of Warner Robins, Alethea Haight (Jeffrey) of Sugar Hill, Arthur Eugene Sullivan, III (Erin) of Warner Robins; grandchildren, Suzanne Lewis, Spencer Wade, Stephen Wade, Sullivan Hopkins, Sarah Hopkins, Skylar Hopkins, Christian Haight, Kaitlyn Haight, Nikolas Haight, Rylan Haight; twelve great-grandchildren, brother, Francis “Fireball” Sullivan of Warner Robins, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be Monday, January 29, 2018 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at McCullough Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 30, 2018 at First Baptist Church of Centerville. Following the service, Gene will be laid to rest in Centerville Cemetery.

The family requests no flowers, donations may be given in memory of Arthur Eugene Sullivan, Jr. to the Humane Society of Houston County, Inc., P.O. Box 9588, Warner Robins, GA 31095 or the Disabled American Veterans Foundation, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, Ohio 45250.