Gene P. Thacker

RAEFORD - Gene Paul Thacker, of 1701 Doc Brown Road, died Monday, Aug. 20, 2012, in First Health Moore Regional Hospital at the age of 81. Mr. Thacker was born in Pike County, Ky., on June 21, 1931, to the late Appy Thacker and Octavia Smith Thacker. He was preceded in death by his son, Paul Keith Thacker; his brother, Chester Thacker; and two sisters, Clara Thacker and Opal Thacker Bishop. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Billie Jean Chapman, in 1953, Mr. Thacker joined the U.S. Army and earned his jump wings with the 101st Airborne Division, the Screaming Eagles. In 1963, Mr. Thacker joined the U.S. Army's elite parachute team, the Golden Knights. In 1967, Mr. Thacker received the Golden Knight of the Year award, the first time the award was ever given. In 1968, he left the team to serve a tour in Vietnam. While in Vietnam, serving as an adviser, he was engaged in a firefight and was wounded. He returned to the U.S. and became the full-time manager of the Green Beret Sport Parachute Club. With his deep passion for the sport of skydiving, in 1970, Mr. Thacker began building what is today P.K. Airpark. Among his great accomplishments, Mr. Thacker is probably most noted for coaching and training more world champion skydivers than any other professional in the sport. Mr. Thacker was a veteran in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. He was awarded many commendations over his 22-year career in the U.S. Army. Some of those include the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Master Parachute Badge and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Gene Paul Thacker retired from the U.S. Army as a master sergeant in 1971. Survivors include his wife, Billie Jean Thacker of Raeford; daughter, Kimberly Sue Moore and her husband, Mike, of Pinebluff; two sons, Tony Thacker and his wife, Kate, of Raeford, and Tim Thacker of Raeford; brother, Greg Thacker and his wife, Brenda, of Muscleshoals, Ala.; three half brothers, Mike Thacker, Ronnie Thacker, and Gary Thacker all of Canada, Ky.; three sisters, Mary Jane Deiranieh and her husband, Akram, of San Jose, Calif., Lois Reed of Belfry, Ky., and Gail Thacker of Belfry; six grandchildren, Deny Jo Nagule, Lindsay Rae Moore, Lauren Ansley Thacker, Taylor Nicole Moore, Morgan Leigh Thacker and Allie Victoria Thacker; three great-grandchildren, Darren Nagule, Charlie McClendon and Madison McClendon; a great-great-grandchild, Royce Michael Nagule; a special nephew, Steve Bishop of South Carolina; and his companion of 13 years his Jack Russell, Otis. A visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, 2012, at Crumpler Funeral Home, 131 Harris Ave., Raeford. A graveside service will be 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012, in Raeford Cemetery with full military honors. Memorials may be made to National Skydiving Museum, 5401 Southpoint Centre Blvd., Fredericksburg, VA 22407. Online condolences may be made at crumplerfuneralhome.com.