Eugene McGowan III was a retired Air Force veteran and a longtime resident of Lompoc, California.  He was a husband, father, and grandfather.

He was born to Junior McGowan and Ernie Pruitt in Laurel, Mississippi on May 23, 1935. He migrated in 1944 with his mother to Los Angeles when he was a boy where he graduated from Jefferson High School in 1953.

Soon after graduation, he joined the United States Air Force where one of his duties included serving as a security communications officer with much pride. He served in both the Vietnam War and Post Korean War. He retired with an honorable discharge as a Tech Sergeant rank E-6 after serving for 22 years. Within the enlisted Air Force, he worked his way to Tech Sgt which is known as the second hardest promotion to acquire. TSgt's hold a 7-skill level and can deal with highly complex technical duties as well as provide supervision for their subordinates. They are to not only perform to the best of their ability but to get those they supervise to work at their best too.

He was an avid reader and writer and loved writing poetry. He also loved basketball as he played on the Air Force team. He even enjoyed himself from time to time a little dancing on the dance floor or wherever he could move his feet to the sound of the beat.

Eugene is survived by his wife, Juanita McGowan, and her son Nathan Charles, his daughter, Jan Wilson (nee' McGowan) and her husband David Wilson Sr., his daughter Natasha McGowan and their mother, his grandchildren Selah Wilson, and David Wilson Jr., plus a host of family and friends. He is predeceased by his daughter, Natalie McGowan; his mother, Ernie Cowan; his dad, Bill Cowan; and other relatives who passed before him.

In closing, we thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement.

A visitation will be held at Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, Chapel on Wednesday, January 25, 2023, from 5 pm-8 pm.  Private inurnment will be at Riverside National Cemetery.

Flowers are appreciated, but charitable donations are also welcome.