Eugene F. Corcoran, Jr., age 87, beloved husband of 55 years to Joy Lee Cronan Corcoran, of Spring City, Tennessee passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville surrounded by his family.

Gene was born on June 17, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois to the late Eugene F. Corcoran, Sr. and Ann Clare (Nancy) McNulty Corcoran.  He was a high school graduate of Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut and received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts degree from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut.

Gene was a Major in the United States Air Force / Air Force Reserves.  He served from 1959 to 1996, flying KC 135s. He was honorably retired on June 17, 1996.

Gene started flying for Trans World Airlines on June 24, 1966, and retired as a Captain on June 17, 1996.  He had a favorite restaurant in every city to which he flew, and he loved to schedule winter layovers in Salt Lake City where he kept a locker to store his ski equipment.

When Gene was not out flying, he volunteered for 23 years as a paramedic and trustee for the Pingree Grove & Countryside Fire Protection District in Kane County, Illinois.  He loved to sail on Lake Michigan in the summer and was a diehard fan and season ticket holder for the Chicago Bears.

After retiring to Spring City, Tennessee in 2004, Gene switched his season tickets from Chicago Bears football to UT Lady Vols basketball.  He and Joy rarely missed a game and loved to travel to see the team play during tournament time. They also served together with the Senior Citizen Awareness Network (S.C.A.N.)and were members of the Grandview Twirlers square dancing club.  Gene was a member of the Rhea County Water Board as well.

He was an active member of St. Bridget's Catholic Church in Dayton, Tennessee and sang as a cantor and choir member.

Gene was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Kimberly C. Corcoran, his brother Timothy J. Corcoran, and his great grandson Keaton S. Jones.

Survivors include his wife, Joy, his son Eugene F. Corcoran, III of Spring City, TN, his daughter Ashley C. Majors (Bart) of Hattiesburg, MS: grandchildren Chelsea J. Jones (Brandon), Benjamin D. Majors, Blake L. Majors, Rhyan C. Majors, and great grandchildren Kendall A. Jones and Colton S. Jones.

A graveside memorial service will be held at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Evanston, Illinois at a later date.

Donations in Eugene's honor should be made to the Tim Corcoran Campership Fund at Camp Manitowish YMCA in Boulder Junction, WI, University of Tennessee Lady Vols, or the Rhea County Sheriff's Office SCAN program.

This obituary is courtesy of Vaughn Funeral Home, Spring City. Please share your condolences and memories of him with his family on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.