Eugene (Gene) Henry Cagle, 88 of Rogersville, AL, died peacefully at his residence December 8, 2014.
Visitation will be 6-9PM Wednesday at Spry Funeral Home, Athens, AL. The funeral will be at 1PM Thursday at Spry Funeral Home Chapel, Athens with Jerry Curry, Bill Hall and Steve Klein officiating. Burial will be at the Weaver Cemetery, Rogersville, AL.
Mr. Cagle retired from NASA in 1981 as the Laboratory Director of Marshall Space Flight Center. He had joined NASA in 1954 as a project engineer and was one of the original employees from Redstone Arsenal to move to NASA. He worked on payloads for Explorer and Pegasus and was Engineering Manager for Saturn I and Saturn V. He managed the Apollo Telescope Mount, ATM, for Skylab and had a Day in Space dedicated to him on August 22, 1973, by Skylab astronauts Alan Bean, Owen Garriott and Jack Lousma.
After his retirement from NASA, he continued working on the Space Shuttle at USBI, a division of United Technologies. He retired from United Technologies in 1989 as Senior Vice President and Deputy General Manager. He received numerous awards during his career with the US space program, including the NASA Outstanding Leadership Medal and the NASA Public Service Metal.
He was a Christian and an Elder at the New Georgia Church of Christ. He loved and respected God and His Word and lived to glorify God. He was a wonderful devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.
Mr. Cagle graduated from Lauderdale County High School in 1945 and Athens College with degrees in Mathematics and Physics. He was an Air Force Veteran of the Korean War.
Mr. Cagle played and enjoyed sports, including football, basketball, baseball, tennis and golf. He continued to play golf up into his 80s. He was an avid supporter of Lauderdale County High School and the University of Alabama.
He was preceded in death by parents, Alton and Vela Cagle; sisters, Mildred Blackburn and husband Harry, Catherine McCartney; brothers, E.F. Cagle and wife Willie T. Cagle, James Cagle.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Joyce Ann Fuqua Cagle. They were high school sweethearts and were married on July 9, 1949. He is also survived by his 3 children; Brenda Joyce Cagle, Rogersville, Richard Eugene Cagle, Rogersville, Janet Sue Marquis (Jimmy), Acworth, GA; grandchildren, Jimmy H. Marquis III (Angela), Atlanta, GA., Bryant Cagle Marquis (Kathryn), Atlanta, GA., and Katie Joyce Marquis, Acworth, GA.; siblings, Bill Cagle (Hazel), Athens, sister, Shirley Hargrave (Ernest), Madison; sister-in-law, Willa Jean Cagle; brother-in-law, James McCartney; nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Jimmy Marquis III, Bryant Marquis, Keith Garrett, Curtis Cagle, Chris Cagle and Tim Johnson. Honorary Pallbearers will be James McCartney, Doyce Richardson, Frank Cagle, Jimmy Blackburn, Andy Cagle and Danny B. McWilliams.
The family would especially like to thank all Mr. Cagle’s caregivers, our extended family, friends and our spiritual family at New Georgia Church of Christ for their never ceasing love, prayers and support. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved His appearing. 2 Timothy 4:7-8.
