To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the Arkansas Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in Arkansas, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 3/16/13 • Approved: 7/21/16 • Last Updated: 7/24/16 • R847943-G0-S3
US Marine Corps
World War II
October 29, 1923 - July 27, 2012
*Obituary
Midland Reporter-Telegram
July 29, 2012
Eugene (Gene) H. Hanks Sr. passed away on Friday 27 July 2012. Gene was a member of the "Greatest Generation." He was born on October 29, 1923 in Calico Rock, Arkansas and grew up in Izard County, Arkansas during the Great Depression. During 1940/41 Gene served one year with the CCCs at Camp Sage, Arkansas. Gene joined the U.S. Marine Corps on December 27, 1941 and, after boot camp, served two years in the Pacific Theater of Operations. Gene was honorably discharged from Camp Lejeune, North Carolina on December 29, 1945. Gene received a BSME degree from Oklahoma State University in 1953 and joined Humble Oil & Refining Company (now Exxon/Mobil) as a petroleum engineer.
Gene met the love of his life on a blind date and was married to Miriam Anne Reiniger on August 6, 1955 in Texas City, Texas. Gene worked in both domestic and international assignments during his career. This included fifteen years in Australia, Iran, the United Kingdom and Norway. Gene was in Iran during the 1978/79 revolution against the Pahlavi Family (the Shah). He assisted in the evacuation of expatriate personnel and families to ensure their safety. Gene was a registered petroleum engineer and a member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers. The family first moved to Midland in 1972 from Australia and left in 1975 for another international assignment. Gene and Miriam then returned to Midland in 1985. After retirement in August of 1986 Gene was busy with various activities including business ventures and writing short stories and his memoirs.
Gene is survived by his wife of 57 years, Miriam of Midland, TX; Catherine L. Hanks of Fairbanks, Alaska; Shelby M. Hanks and wife Alicia of Midland; Gregory H. Hanks of Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming; and Eugene H. Hanks Jr. of San Antonio; four granddaughters (Whitney, Lauren, Theresa and Joanna) and one great granddaughter (Lydia). Gene is also survived by one brother, Roy B. Hanks and wife Luretta of Grandview, Missouri. Gene was preceded in death by his parents Clarence Shelby and Zella Roe (Benbrook) Hanks, and one brother, Ernest L. Hanks. The family would like to thank Alice Perales, Brenda Nickell, Juanita Jurado and the many caregivers of Manor Park that gave Gene such loving care during these last two years.
A funeral mass will be held at Manor Park Chapel, Midland, TX at 11 am on Tuesday, July 31. Internment will be held at the Mount Olive Cemetery, Mount Olive, Arkansas. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to Hospice of Midland. Arrangements were made with Lewallen-Garcia-Pipkin Funeral Home.
Contributed on 3/16/13 by sandhollow
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 847943