Arthur Eugene "Gene" Gravitt, 22, of Coal Valley, Illinois, passed away on Saturday evening, October 6, 1956, at Moline Public Hospital, Moline, Illinois, from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier that day.
Born on February 21, 1934, in Rock Island, Illinois, he was the son of Arthur Floyd and Marie Kathryn Hinkel Gravitt.
Gene grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated from Coal Valley High School in 1952. He was an active participant in basketball and baseball in high school. He had played guard on the Yellow Jackets varsity basketball squad during their final season in 1951-52.*
After high school, Gene enlisted in the Air Force. He served four years as an airman in the 30th Air Division. He served three of those years in France and Germany. He had returned home from service and had been employed the last eight weeks before his death at Herman Nelson Division, American Air Filter Company, Inc.
He was survived by his parents; two brothers, Richard Lee and Michael Wayne, at home; four sisters, Mrs. Janice Marie Seibert, Coal Valley, and Barbara Ann, Marjorie Faye, and Sandra Jean, all at home; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hinkel, Milan.
Airman Second Class
Headquarters
30th Air Division (Defense)
Air Force
06/24/1952 - 06/23/1956
Honorable Discharge
National Defense Service Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
Good Conduct Medal
*Coal Valley High School closed in 1952 and consolidated with Moline High School.
Born on February 21, 1934, in Rock Island, Illinois, he was the son of Arthur Floyd and Marie Kathryn Hinkel Gravitt.
Gene grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated from Coal Valley High School in 1952. He was an active participant in basketball and baseball in high school. He had played guard on the Yellow Jackets varsity basketball squad during their final season in 1951-52.*
After high school, Gene enlisted in the Air Force. He served four years as an airman in the 30th Air Division. He served three of those years in France and Germany. He had returned home from service and had been employed the last eight weeks before his death at Herman Nelson Division, American Air Filter Company, Inc.
He was survived by his parents; two brothers, Richard Lee and Michael Wayne, at home; four sisters, Mrs. Janice Marie Seibert, Coal Valley, and Barbara Ann, Marjorie Faye, and Sandra Jean, all at home; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hinkel, Milan.
Airman Second Class
Headquarters
30th Air Division (Defense)
Air Force
06/24/1952 - 06/23/1956
Honorable Discharge
National Defense Service Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
Good Conduct Medal
*Coal Valley High School closed in 1952 and consolidated with Moline High School.
Arthur Eugene "Gene" Gravitt, 22, of Coal Valley, Illinois, passed away on Saturday evening, October 6, 1956, at Moline Public Hospital, Moline, Illinois, from injuries sustained in a car accident earlier that day.
Born on February 21, 1934, in Rock Island, Illinois, he was the son of Arthur Floyd and Marie Kathryn Hinkel Gravitt.
Gene grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated from Coal Valley High School in 1952. He was an active participant in basketball and baseball in high school. He had played guard on the Yellow Jackets varsity basketball squad during their final season in 1951-52.*
After high school, Gene enlisted in the Air Force. He served four years as an airman in the 30th Air Division. He served three of those years in France and Germany. He had returned home from service and had been employed the last eight weeks before his death at Herman Nelson Division, American Air Filter Company, Inc.
He was survived by his parents; two brothers, Richard Lee and Michael Wayne, at home; four sisters, Mrs. Janice Marie Seibert, Coal Valley, and Barbara Ann, Marjorie Faye, and Sandra Jean, all at home; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hinkel, Milan.
Airman Second Class
Headquarters
30th Air Division (Defense)
Air Force
06/24/1952 - 06/23/1956
Honorable Discharge
National Defense Service Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
Good Conduct Medal
*Coal Valley High School closed in 1952 and consolidated with Moline High School.
Born on February 21, 1934, in Rock Island, Illinois, he was the son of Arthur Floyd and Marie Kathryn Hinkel Gravitt.
Gene grew up in the Quad Cities and graduated from Coal Valley High School in 1952. He was an active participant in basketball and baseball in high school. He had played guard on the Yellow Jackets varsity basketball squad during their final season in 1951-52.*
After high school, Gene enlisted in the Air Force. He served four years as an airman in the 30th Air Division. He served three of those years in France and Germany. He had returned home from service and had been employed the last eight weeks before his death at Herman Nelson Division, American Air Filter Company, Inc.
He was survived by his parents; two brothers, Richard Lee and Michael Wayne, at home; four sisters, Mrs. Janice Marie Seibert, Coal Valley, and Barbara Ann, Marjorie Faye, and Sandra Jean, all at home; and his maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Hinkel, Milan.
Airman Second Class
Headquarters
30th Air Division (Defense)
Air Force
06/24/1952 - 06/23/1956
Honorable Discharge
National Defense Service Medal
Army of Occupation Medal (Germany)
Good Conduct Medal
*Coal Valley High School closed in 1952 and consolidated with Moline High School.
Inscription
ILLINOIS
A2C HQ 30 AIR DIVISION AF
Gravesite Details
Birth date on grave marker is wrong. Birth certificate and death certificate list birth date as February 21, 1934. Interred next to his parents, Arthur Floyd and Marie Kathryn Hinkel Gravitt.
