Obituary of Gene Raymond Barnhill

Gene Raymond Barnhill, 85, peacefully passed on August 11, 2023.

He was born in Crestview, FL to Herbert (Hub) Coy Barnhill and Thelma Snowden Barnhill on August 23, 1937.  He was married to Yoshiko (Toni) Barnhill on September 26, 1961 and they were married for 20 years.  Gene had a brief second marriage to Patricia Posey, but they decided that they were better friends than marriage partners.

Gene served in the U.S. Navy for 20 years as an Engineman and ended his Navy career as a Recruit Commander at the Naval Training Center in Orlando, Florida on January 20, 1975.  He then went on to work as a Training Instructor at the National River Academy in Helena, Arkansas.  Then , he decided to be closer to family and moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida and worked at Hudson Marina and Junger Utilities.  He was best known as a boat mechanic.  He then moved around Florida and also lived in Hunstsville, AL before ending up back in Northwest Florida to live with his daughter and her family in 2015.  In recent years, Gene really enjoyed wood working with his brother-in-law, Gene Roberts.  
Together, they made lamp bases, bowls, cups, and candle sticks.  Gene really enjoyed making these items and then giving them to his Doctors and their staffs.  He loved the joy that those gifts brought and also liked that those items would be cherished for years to come.  His favorite past time was being a bass fisherman, spending time with his nephew, Donald Ray Woods on their float house.  Gene was a long time member of the American Legion.

He is survived by his daughter, Teresa Fought (Mark) of Fort Walton Beach, Florida; grandson, Taylor Fought (Kena); grandaughter, Tiffany Fought; great-grandson, Rhett Fought; sisters, Neda Roberts (Gene) of Crestview, Florida and Nettie Peebles of Pace, Florida, as well as many nephews and and nieces.  He is preceded in death by both of his previous spouses, Toni Barnhill and Pat Posey; mother, Thelma Barnhill; father, Hub Barnhill; sister, Betty McKinney (Wilburn); and brother, William Marshall (Barney) Barnhill.

Funeral arrangements are scheduled on what would have been Gene's birthday, August 23, 2023 at Family-Funeral & Cremation, 101 Mary Esther Blvd., Mary Esther, FL.  Family time is scheduled for 12:30-1pm.  Visitation from 1-2pm, and a service to be performed by Minister Don Cadenhead is scheduled at 2pm.  A Celebration of life reception will follow with those details to be announced at the service.


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