Eugene Franklin "Gene" Mecum, 88, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, at his home.

He was born May 25, 1926, in Bureau County, Illinois, the son of Benjamin Harrison and Ferne Elizabeth Whipple Mecum.

Gene and Dorothy M. Niswonger Westrich were married May 13, 1962, at Winthrop Harbor, Illinois. In this marriage they had two children, Sandra Mae Mecum and Bradley Eugene Mecum.

Gene was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Europe during World War II and also in Korea.

Gene was an over-the-road driver for many years. On moving to Cape Girardeau, he owned and operated Mecum's Texaco and Mecum's Auto and Truck Repair. He also worked as a mechanic at U-Haul of Cape Girardeau, retiring in 1991.

Loving survivors include his wife of 51 years, Dorothy; his son, Bradley Mecum and wife Monica and their sons, Preston Gene and Nathan Andrew, all of Cape Girardeau; three sons and three daughters from a previous marriage, Wesley, John and James Mecum, Margaret Mecum, Patricia Schnurbusch and Gloria Barnes; a sister, Bernice Powers of Peoria Heights, Illinois; a brother-in-law, John A. Niswonger; and a sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Larry and Mary Niswonger Joiner.

Also surviving are 14 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Sandra, on June 19, 1973 at the age of 9; a son, Robert; two sisters, Yvonne Parrott-Cade and Marilyn Wolzfelt; and five brothers, Kenneth, William, Charles, Ben and Donald.

There will be an open house from 2 to 5 p.m. Nov. 29 at Dorothy and Gene's home. No flowers, please. Memorials made be made at the open house.

Interment will follow at a later date at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield.

Local arrangements made by McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolence messages may be sent to the family by visiting mccombsfuneralhome.com.