William Eugene "Gene" Maddox, Sr.

The Maddox family mourns the passing of William Eugene (Gene) Maddox, Sr., beloved son, brother, friend, husband, professor, father, father-in-law, and grandfather. Gene is preceded in death by parents Edgar and Myrtle (Payne) Maddox of Owensboro, Kentucky and brother James Maddox of Lubbock, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Brenda Maddox of Cincinnati, Ohio, brothers Dane Maddox (Tina) of Lexington, Kentucky and Jerry Maddox (Carolyn) of Owensboro, Kentucky, son William E. Maddox, Jr. (Mary Beth) of Knoxville, Tennessee, daughter Mary Mullins (Richard) of Cincinnati, Ohio and grandchildren, William and Anna Carlton Maddox, and Margaret and John Mullins. 

Gene graduated from Owensboro High School in 1956. Following active service in the U.S. Army for two years, he enrolled at Murray State University where he graduated in 1962 with a B.S. in Mathematics and Physics. Most importantly, Murray State is where he met his best friend and wife Brenda Skaggs in an English class. Brenda and Gene married in 1963 and moved to Bloomington, Indiana, where Gene graduated with a Ph.D. in Nuclear Physics from Indiana University in 1968.

Gene and Brenda moved back to Murray, Kentucky in 1968 to teach at Murray State University where he eventually earned tenure and was promoted to full professor. At Murray State, Gene was an excellent teacher who cherished the relationships with his students well after they had graduated from Murray State. In 1986, Gene received the Max G. Carman Award for Excellence in Teaching. An accomplished researcher, Gene spent 8 summers working for NASA at Langley Air Force Base.

More than his professional accomplishments, what defined Gene above all else was the love and devotion he had for his family, starting with his children Bill and Mary, and extending to his greatest pride, his grandchildren, Will, Anna Carlton, Maggie, and John.

Gene will be remembered at a memorial service at the J. H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services at 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 15, 2023, with Rev. Jim Stahler officiating. Visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., on Saturday, April 15, 2023, at the J.H. Churchill Funeral Home & Cremation Services.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations in his memory to the MISD Foundation for Excellence, P.O. Box 1417, Murray, Kentucky, 42071.

Online condolences can be made at, www.jhchurchill.com