Gene Lamm

Gene Lamm, age 92, of Niceville, Florida, passed away on February 12, 2026.

Gene Shelton Lamm was born in Selma, North Carolina, on November 7,1933, the only child of Arie Hatcher and William Earl Lamm.

Gene entered the US Army on April 10,1953 and took infantry basic training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. Completing basic, he attended leadership school and advanced tactical weapons training. Assignments: South Korea, (1953-1954); Fort Lewis, Washington, (1954-1955). He returned to civilian life and worked as an electric welder for Newport News Shipbuilding, Newport News, Virginia.

Gene enlisted in the US Air Force on September 3, 1957. Gene was a direct duty assigned Air Police trainee. Air/Security Police assignments: Eglin AFB, FL (1957-1959); Kunson Air Base, South Korea (1959-1960); Eglin AFB, FL (1960-1964); Lahr (French Air Base) Germany (1964-1966); Malmstrom AFB, MT (1966-1968). In 1968 Gene crossed trained into the First Sergeant's Career Field. First Sergeant assignments:

Malmstrom AFB, MT (1969-1969); Ton San Nhut Air Base, VietNam (1969-1970); Seymour Johnson AFB, NC (1971-1972), Offutt AFB, NE (1972-1975); Reimbach, Germany (1975-1976); Augsburg, Germany (1976-1978); Ramstein AB, Germany (1978-1981). He returned to the Security Police Career Field and was assigned to Eglin AFB, FL (1981-1985). Gene attended night classes with University of Maryland (European and Far Eastern Division) and the College of Great Falls, MT. He has 54 semester hours with the Community College of the Air Force in Work Center Management. He is also a graduate of the SAC NCO Academy (1969), AF Senior NO Academy (1974 and Security Police Officer's Shift Commander's Course (1981). Gene completed the Florida Dept. of Law Enforcement Standards for Correctional Officers at Okaloosa Walton Community College in 1990 and holds Florida State Certification as a Correctional Officer. He worked part-time for several years, on the weekends, at the Okaloosa County Jail in Crestview, Florida, in the visitation area.

Gene retired from the US Air Force as the Chief, Support Branch, 3201 Security Police Squadron, Eglin AFB, Florida on October 1, 1985, as a Chief Master Sergeant. His military decorations include the Bronze Star, three AF meritorious Service medals, one AF Commendation medal, and AF Outstanding Unit Award with V Device for valor.

Gene was selected as the 96th Security Forces Squadron Civilian of the Year for 2006.

Upon his US Air Force retirement, Gene was employed with Gary Smith Ford, Fort Walton Beach, Florida, as a sales representative (1985-1986). He began his civilian federal service with 3201 Security Police Squadron as a Security Specialist (1986-1990); Security Specialist/Manager, Acquisition Security, Air Force Development Test Center (1990-1998); Security Specialist/Industrial Security, Acquisition Security, Air Armament Center, re-aligned under the 96th Security Forces Squadron (1999 to 2007).

Gene is survived by his wife of 70 years, Evelyn Radford Lamm, his son and daughter-in-law, William "Keith" Lamm and Jodi, and his grandchildren McKinsey, Marlee, Liam and brothers James "Jim" Hawley, wife Pam, and Joe Hawley, wife, Allyson.

Gene was very proud of his family and military and civil service careers. Gene was known to many and will truly be missed and remembered by them and his family.

A funeral service will be held on February 23 at 12:00 PM at McLaughlin Twin Cities Funeral Home in Niceville, Florida. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. Interment following the funeral service will be at Heritage Gardens in Niceville, Florida.

In lieu of or in addition to flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to a charitable organization of your choosing.