Gene Austin Echols

Gene Austin Echols, age 94, of Yorktown, VA, went to be with the Lord on Monday, April 21st, 2025.
Born in Rawlings, VA, he was the son of the late Lennie Turner Echols and Lillian Pritchett Echols. He is survived by his wife of 66 years Melva Echols, son Mark Echols (Angela and her son, Ben Derksen), daughter Lois Echols, granddaughters Kelly Echols and Sabrina Briggs and numerous nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by two sisters, Page Josephson and Martha Echols, and two brothers, Roy Echols and Ross Echols.
He attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute on the G.I. bill and graduated Cum Laude (Honorary Society: Phi Lambda Upsilon) in 1957 with a degree in Chemical Engineering. He spent his entire career with the American Oil Company (AMOCO), starting at its Baltimore automobile laboratory and transferred to Yorktown as a chemical engineer. Gene spent the remainder of his 35-year career with AMOCO at the refinery in Yorktown, Va retiring in 1992.
Gene put God and family first and was actively involved in church ministry. He was kind, wise, and always positive, no matter the situation. He taught by example how to live a good life and strived to always “do the right thing” regardless of the cost or personal sacrifice. He was an expert fixer upper- there was nothing this engineer could not get working again – and was forever learning and engaging his mind. At 90, he decided it was time to get a smart phone (iPhone), which he quickly mastered. Gene next acquired a drone so he could get eyes on any necessary roof repairs (even though he crashed it a time or two). His guidance, prayers, and unwavering support will be deeply missed.
A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 2:00 PM in the chapel of Amory Funeral Home, Grafton. Interment will follow in Hampton Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends 1 hour prior to service.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to World Outreach Worship Center, 1233 Shields Road, Newport News, Va or the Yorktown Hospice House, https://www.yorktownhospicehouse.org.