Published: November 10, 2009 12:00 am         

B. Eugene (Gene) Sagraves

B. Eugene (Gene) Sagraves, 72, of Terre Haute died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, in Union Hospital. He was born Aug. 2, 1937, in Terre Haute, to Buel and Tishia Jones Sagraves. Gene graduated in 1955 from Glenn High School, and in 1970 from Indiana State University, with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Marketing. He served in the U.S. Army at Fort Riley, Kans., from 1960 to 1962, and received an Honorable Discharge in 1966. He retired in 1999 from Indiana State University after 29 years of service as Assistant Director of Purchasing. He was the consummate do-it-yourself guy who never met a project he wouldn’t tackle, and the ultimate animal lover who never met a stray he wouldn’t take in. He was faithful, honorable, devoted, strong, tender, and courageous.

Gene is survived by his wife of 36 years, Karen; daughter, Jenna; sister, Betty Sagraves of Houston (formerly of Terre Haute); sister and brother-in-law, Mary Lou and Robert Coltharp of Houston; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Glen; and sisters, Annabelle Baker and Bonnie Sagraves.

Visitation is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, from 4 to 8 p.m., in Callahan-DeBaun Funeral Home, 2425 Wabash Ave. Funeral services will be Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at 11 a.m., in the funeral home, with senior minister the Rev. Rebecca Zelensky of Central Christian Church, the Rev. Jack Brockman of Hospice of the Wabash Valley, and the Rev. Jack Diel of United Campus Ministries officiating. Burial will be in Highland Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions in Gene’s memory may be made to United Campus Ministries, 321 N. 7th Street, Terre Haute, IN, 47807; or the Helping Hands Fund of Central Christian Church, 4950 E. Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47803.