DIAMOND, EUGENE D.
Eugene D. Diamond, 85, of 116 Buffalo St., died at 1:30 A.M. Monday, March 19, 2007 in his home.
He was born Jan. 1, 1922 in Jamestown, the son of Thomas and Mildred Bjork Diamond. He was a 1940 graduate of Jamestown High School.
Following graduation, Gene enlisted in the United States Marine Corps. He was trained at Parris Island, S.C. and then joined the 1st Marine Raider Battalion under Colonel Merritt Edson. After training in American Samoa and New Caledonia, he took part the Solomon Island campaign as a rifleman and demolitions expert. He fought for the United States on Tulagi, Guadalcanal, and New Georgia. As a replacement sharpshooter and demolitions expert he was sent to the island of Okinawa where he fought for the duration of the war.
While on leave from Camp Lejeune, N.C., Gene married Anne Rebecca Neill on Aug. 25, 1944. After the war, he graduated from the Simmons School of Mortuary Science. He was employed as a funeral director at Powers Funeral Home, and later was the manager of the Henderson-Lincoln Funeral Home until his retirement.
He was an active member of the Thule Lodge 127 Vasa Order of America for 28 years and was a member of Thomas Stone Post 1996 AMVETS. He was a life member of John W. Tiffany Post 53, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Edson’s Raiders Association, and the Chautauqua County Funeral Directors Association.
He is survived by three daughters: Cynthia A. Diamond, with whom he made his home, Suzanne Diamond (Art Johnson) of Ashville, and Jennifer D. Huber (Rick) of Jamestown; nine grandchildren: Stacy (Tim) Storer of Incirlik AFB, Turkey, Michelle (David) O’Connell of Vero Beach, Fal., Dr. Catherine (Scott) Creeley of St. Louis, Mo., Emily Timm of Jamestown, Gary Timm of Kokkola, Finland, Steven Timm of Vale, Col., Nate (Kate) Huber of Erie, Pa., A1C Zachary Huber of Ramstein AFB, Germany, and Hannah Huber of Jamestown; six great-grandchildren: Mackenzie and Abbey O’Connell, Nicholas and Anne Creeley, and Tess and Casey Timm; and two cousins: Dan (Linda) Fellows and Anne (Sandy) Galloway.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Anne Neill Diamond on Jan. 9, 2001; his sister Beverly Eastman of Lacey, Wash., his brother, W. Donald Diamond of Lake Mary, Fla., and by an infant grandson.
A graveside service with military honors will be at 11:00 A.M. Saturday in Lake View Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 P.M. Friday in Powers, Present & Sixbey Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Hospice Chautauqua County, 4840 W. Lake Rd., Mayville, N.Y. 14757, the Prendergast Library Association, 509 Cherry St., Jamestown, N.Y. 14701, or to the Chautauqua Blind Assoc., 510 W. Fifth St., Jamestown, N.Y. 14701.