Eugene Myers

EUGENE T. MYERS

LEICESTER - Eugene Thomas Myers, 86, of 16 Myers Mountain Road, Leicester, died on Saturday, February 12, 2011.

Mr. Myers was born in Cleveland, OH, and was a son of the late Harry Charles and Mildred Zuli Myers. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor Pavlik Myers; and brothers, Walter, Frank, and Bill Myers.

Mr. Myers served with the U.S. Navy during WWII. Mr. Myers served in the occupation of North Africa, the invasion of Sicily, the invasion of Italy, D-Day on Omaha Beach in Normandy, in the Pacific Theater, and in the occupation of the Philippines. He was the plank owner of the U.S. L.S.T. 309, nicknamed "Deacon Myers." The L.S.T. (landing ships tanks) 309 was the largest landing craft capable of delivering tanks, trucks, ammunition, and troops directly onto foreign beaches. Mr. Myers was a member of V.F.W. Post 891. He later retired as a letter carrier with the U.S. Postal Service, and had worked part-time with Harry's Cadillac, Deal Buick, and Enterprise Car Rental. Mr. Myers was also a long-time member of a 12-step recovery group.

He is survived by two daughters, Cyndi Myers, of Delaware, and Diane Yoder, of Houston, TX; three sons, Danny Myers and wife Lisa, of Alexander, Frank Myers and wife Lisa, of Leicester, and Chris Myers and wife Susan, of Oak Park, CA; sister-in-law, Mary Myers, of Ohio; and seven grandchildren, Derek, Camile, and Mason Yoder, of Houston, Lindsay and Jarrett Myers, of Alexander, and Christopher and Alex Myers, of Oak Park.

Funeral services will be on Thursday at 2 p.m. in the chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. Interment will follow in the cemetery. Military honors will be provided by the Buncombe Co. Veterans Council and the North Carolina Honor Guard.

His family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to CarePartners Hospice, P.O. 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

The on-line register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com.