Dr. William Eugene ‘Gene’ Sullivan, 93, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 23, 2017 at his home in Huntsville, AL. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Margaret Eileen Scott Sullivan, whom he married in 1958. He was also predeceased by his parents, Mertie Mae Bowers Sullivan and Robert Mozebal Sullivan; grandparents, Herbert Earl Bowers and Pearl Russell Bowers, and a brother, Moman Earl Sullivan. He is survived by three daughters, Dr. Amy Shadoin (Alan), Ms. Beth Miller, and Mrs. Laura Ragland, (Edward, Jr); four grandchildren, Rowe Ragland, Mary Margaret Ragland, Scott Louis Miller, and Kate Miller, all of Huntsville, AL; one nephew, Tom Allen of Hixson, TN; and cousins Don Bowers and Jack Bowers, both of Athens, AL. He is also survived by long-time caregivers and special friends of the family, Cindy Smith, Belinda McComb, and Mary Pates.
Dr. Sullivan was born on July 30, 1924 in Amory, MS. He moved to Huntsville with his mother in 1926 and following her early death, he was raised by his maternal grandparents. He graduated from Huntsville High School in 1942 where he was a member of the National Honor Society. After high school, Dr. Sullivan worked briefly at Redstone Arsenal as a chemist before enlisting in the US Navy during World War II. While in the Navy, he served as a Radarman Second Class on the LST-932, which saw service in the Asia-Pacific Theater in several campaigns for the liberation of the Philippines including landings in Leyte, Mindanao, and Okinawa.
After an honorable discharge, Dr. Sullivan moved to Tuscaloosa to attend the University of Alabama where he pledged Phi Kappa Sigma social fraternity and was accepted into Alpha Epsilon Delta scholastic fraternity. In 1947 he received an early acceptance into the University of Alabama School of Dentistry where he joined Psi Omega dental fraternity. He was a member of the first graduating class of the University of Alabama School of Dentistry in 1952. After graduation, Dr. Sullivan returned to Huntsville, AL to establish his practice.
Dr. Sullivan was a member of the American Dental Association, the Alabama Dental Association, the Eighth District Dental Society, the Huntsville-Madison County Dental Society, the Society for the Preservation of Oral Health, the Federation Dentaire Internationale, and the Pierre Fouchard Academy. He was a founding member of the Dr. C. C. Bass Dental Study Club. He was a Fellow of both the Academy of General Dentistry and the International College of Dentists. He served as president of the Alabama Dental Association from 1982-1983, president of the Eighth District Dental Society from 1970-1971, and president of the Huntsville-Madison County Dental Society from 1963-1964. He served in the House of Delegates and on the Board of Trustees for the Alabama Dental Association. He also served on the Alabama Board of Dental Examiners, the Council on Education and Licensure of the Alabama Dental Association and the Special Committee for the Preservation of the Alabama Dental Hygiene Program. In 1978 he received the Most Excellent Fellow Award from the Alabama Dental Association. He retired from dentistry in 1993.
Dr. Sullivan studied photography, traveled extensively, and enjoyed classical and jazz music. He also enjoyed gardening, camping, antiques, and architecture and interior design as hobbies. He was a faithful member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity since 1936. He was a member of the Jaycees and the Sertoma Club.
Visitation will be in Ridley Hall at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 28, 2017 at the Church of the Nativity, 208 Eustis Ave. During this time, Dr. Sullivan will lie in repose in the sanctuary. The funeral will be held at noon. Burial will be immediately following the service in Maple Hill Cemetery. A reception for friends and family will be held after burial at the Sullivan home. Pallbearers are Alan Shadoin, Edward Ragland, Rowe Ragland, David Ragland, Dr. John Barnes, and Kenny Perry. Honorary pallbearers are Scott Louis Miller, Thomas Allen, Dr. Rivers Lindsey, and Mark Huber.
Memorials may be made to the Church of the Nativity Historic Preservation Foundation, 208 Eustis Ave, Huntsville, AL 35801; the UAB School of Dentistry Class of 1952 Endowed Support Fund, c/o J. Scott Huffman, UASOD Alumni Assoc. Executive Director, SDB 214, 1720 2nd Ave. S., Birmingham, AL 35294; the Community Free Dental Clinic, 2341 Whitesburg Drive, Huntsville, AL 35801; Russel Hill Cancer Foundation, 3601 CCI Drive, Huntsville, AL 35805; or another charity of your choice.
