Eugene "Ollie" Brighton, 75, of Muncie, died Sunday afternoon, September 20th, 2015 at Golden Living in Muncie. He was born April 18th, 1940 in Lawrenceburg, IN and was the son of the late Lawrence & Laura (Green) Brighton.
Eugene graduated from Dunkirk High School in 1959. He joined the Marine Corps in August of 1959 and he was immediately chosen to attend Sea School after boot camp. Eugene''s love of traveling began when he traveled the world during his time abroad the U.S.S. Ticonderoga while serving in the Marine Corps. After being honorably discharged from the Marine Corps, he married his high school sweetheart, Jana L. Rooker, on October 20th, 1963. They had two children Christopher Brighton of Muncie and Lorese Brighton Sharp (Eric) of Logansport; grandchildren Logan, Dylan, Colby, and Hayden Sharp of Logansport and Kaleigh and Kolton Brighton of Muncie; a sister Kay Brighton Parker of Brownwood, Texas; nephew and nieces Bradly Brighton (Shelly) of Muncie, Melissa Stevens of Goldthwaite, TX, and Kimberly Carroll of Brownwood, TX. Eugene paired his enjoyment of camping and traveling in order to take his family to 48 of the United States. Later he and Jana traveled extensively over six continents. He retired from General Motors of Marion after 35 years of service. During the last 10 years of his employment he greatly enjoyed traveling to General Motors plants all over the United States and Canada as a troubleshooter. He had a great love of children, which began even before his own children and grandchildren came into the world. Eugene worked with the Boy Scouts of America for 23 years. He volunteered with the kindergarten class at Storer Elementary for 6 years after retirement. Eugene was a 50 year member of the Garden at Gethsemane United Methodist Church, where he served for many years on the Missions Commission, played in the bell choir, and worked with the Methodist Youth Fellowship. Gene went on three mission trips with the youth of Gethsemane and in 1997 he and Jana spent three weeks in Zimbabwe, Africa with a group from the Northern Indiana District volunteering at African University, a Methodist sponsored University. In 2003 Eugene and Jana made their first trip to Thailand with a group from Ball State University, where they served as teachers at a two week English Camp affiliated with Prince of Songla University. They fell in love with the students of Thailand and returned for three more years.
Funeral Services for Eugene will be held Thursday, September 24th, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at The Garden at Gethsemane United Methodist Church, 1201 West McGalliard Road, Muncie with Rev. Tony Collins officiating. Burial with Military Honors being conducted by the United States Marine Corps and the Delaware County Honor Guard will follow in Gardens of Memory Cemetery. Family and friends may call from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday at Garden View Funeral Home and one hour prior to the service Thursday at the church. Memorial contributions may be made to Garden at Gethsemane United Methodist Church Building Fund.