Herbert Eugene Dennison was born October 6, 1936 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In the fall of 1952, Gene was in an automobile accident that hospitalized him for several weeks. During that time, he met a hospital volunteer named Joan Koorndyk. Gene and Joan were married on July 27, 1957. Joan attended nursing school; Gene graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 1961. After a brief period of private practice in OB-GYN, Gene was drafted in 1966, and served three years at Womack Army Hospital in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. In 1968, Dr. Dennison moved to Hendersonville and joined the medical practice of Dr. Marion Ross, where he worked for the next 37 years. Dr. Dennison retired from obstetrics in 1995, and from gynecology in 2004.
A teenager during the 1940s, Gene became a World War 2 history buff. He felt it important to remember the sacrifices made for our country’s freedom, and did a considerable amount of reading about the WW2, especially the war at sea and in the air.
Gene was an airplane enthusiast, and used his military benefits to obtain his private pilot’s license. He enjoyed flying a single-engine Cessna out of what was then called Winkler’s Airport in Hendersonville.
An avid gardener, Gene cultivated his own mushrooms, and in the garden he grew everything from tomatoes and cucumbers to beans and squash to peppers and eggplant. Gene was especially proud of his wide selection of heirloom tomatoes, with which he and Joan made soups, salads and of course, lots of BLTs.
From the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean to a small backyard pond, Gene enjoyed fishing when he got the chance. In recent years, he watched Jeopardy every night, and enjoyed a game of Scrabble now and then. His favorite cartoon character was Snoopy, and he could often be seen wearing one of his many Snoopy t-shirts.
Gene was a music lover. Whether on radio, vinyl or CD, Gene enjoyed listening to music both old and new. He played piano and guitar, and was a founding member of the Allelu! music group at Saint James Episcopal Church, where he was an active member for fifty years.
After a three year struggle with cancer, Gene passed peacefully the morning of March 2, 2022 at The Bridge at Lake Pointe Landing. He was preceded in death by parents Herbert Elwood and Marjorie Ruth Dennison, and his sister Joyce. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Joan; children Carl (Lou Ann), Eric (Susan), Ann (Neal Marrano) and Tom (Lisa); and grandchildren Michael, William (Emily), Mary Jo (Jonathan LeCroy), Jessie, Jake (Kayli), Luke (Jessica) and Mitch; nieces Jan and Margie; and longtime coworker and friend Lois “Tootsie” Jones. The family is being served by Jackson Funeral Home; video tribute available online. A memorial service is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. Saturday, March 26 at Saint James Episcopal Church, Hendersonville, with an informal reception immediately following in the church parish hall. All are invited.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, or to Allelu! music group at Saint James Episcopal Church, 766 North Main Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792.