Everette Eugene “Gene” Beam, 86, of Huntsville, passed away Sunday after complications from surgery. Born in Shelby, NC, he graduated from North Carolina State with a Civil Engineering degree. Gene started working for NASA in 1962 and retired in 2004 after 42 years of service. He loved to go to work and was proud that he worked with Werner Von Braun, and that he called Gene by his first name. During his 42-year career, Gene worked on the Apollo program, Space Lab, Automated Rendezvous and Capture, and was manager of Space Station Integration. He was also a Manned Flight Awareness Honoree. Gene was a deacon in his church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Miles Augustus Beam and Frances Edna Dellinger Beam and son, Mel Beam. Survivors include his wife of 30 years, Alicia Cano Beam; children, Brian Beam and Judy Beam Cox (Clay); stepchildren, Kimberlie Baltes and Carl Lerma; grandchildren, Casey Beam Howell (Eric) Liana Beam, Riley Cox, Addison Cox, and Shelby Cox; and great-grandchildren, Ana Cate, Everette Knox, and Rowan Lewis Howell.
Visitation will be from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday at First Presbyterian Church. The funeral will follow at the church with the Rev. Tara Bulger officiating. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church Organ Restoration Fund.
