Ivey Eugene Williamson

Dec. 7 1934 – April 4, 2018

Ivey Eugene “Gene” or “Gino” Williamson, 83, of Surprise, Arizona died on April 4, 2018 in Surprise, Arizona. He was born on December 7, 1934 to Ivey H. Williamson and Susan Inez Bass Williamson in Lucama, North Carolina.

Gene grew up in Lucama, North Carolina and graduated from Lucama High School. After graduating from North Carolina State University, he entered the United States Air Force and was stationed in Keflavik, Iceland. In 1962, he was awarded a flight training assignment at Moody AFB. Upon receiving his pilot’s wings, he was assigned to McChord AFB with the mission of flying C-124s in and out of Vietnam. While in the Air Force, he met his future wife, Marlene Andersen, in San Francisco, where she was stationed as a flight attendant with TWA. After they were married, Gino transitioned to the private sector and flew for Pan American World Airways, flying B-707s and later L -1011s all over the world. While flying commercially, he also flew with the Air Force Reserve in C-124s and C-130s. In 1985, he was part of the United Airlines purchase of Pan Am’s Pacific routes and L-1011s. He finished his career in commercial aviation as a United captain on the B-757 and B-767 airplanes, retiring in 1995 and later moving to Surprise, Arizona.

Known to his North Carolina family as “Gene,” he received the nickname “Gino” while stationed in Iceland. He was beloved for his fun-loving nature, easy laugh, his crooked smile and his wonderful sense of humor. According to Marlene, “Everywhere we went, no matter what city we were in, Gino would run into someone he knew. We were walking down the sidewalk in Buenos Aires once and suddenly he said, ‘Look, there’s Bob!’ The next thing I know, he’s introducing me to this person I had never seen before.” Gino passed away the day before their 54th wedding anniversary. He was a world traveler, a runner and golfer, as well as an avid fan of Major League Baseball and Wolfpack sports.

Gino is survived by his wife Marlene Williamson, son Craig E. Williamson and wife Ann, daughter Krista Williamson, sister; Elaine Lamm, brother; Donald Williamson and wife Edna Ruth, brother Danny Williamson and wife Lisa, six nieces and nephews.

The family would like to specially acknowledge and thank Gino’s daughter-in-law, Ann D. Williamson, the staff at Santé Rehabilitation and Hospice of the Valley for the comfort and care they provided in Gino’s final days.

A military service and interment is being planned for August 2018 at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia. In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org.