Howard E. “Gene” Cody, Colonel United States Air Force Retired, Command Pilot, 93, of Montgomery, Ala. died Dec. 10, 2014 at home. A graveside service with full military honors will be held at New Live Oak Cemetery in Selma at 10 a.m. on Dec. 12, 2014. Leak-Memory Chapel will be directing. Senior Pastor Claude McRoberts and Care Pastor Michael Howell of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Montgomery will officiate. Colonel Cody was born in Selma and graduated from Selma High School in 1939. He was an alumnus of Auburn University and Florida Southern College. He joined the Army Air Corps at Maxwell AFB, Montgomery in 1941 and served on active duty for 29 years. Colonel Cody attended flight training, and then became an instructor pilot during WWII. He piloted fighters, U2 spy planes and bombers before completing his career in command positions of flying and headquarters units. He served in WWII, Korea and Vietnam, before retiring from the Air Force in 1970. He received numerous military decorations, including the Legion of Merit. He worked as a Resources Use Planner with the state of Alabama until August 1986 when he retired from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM). He served as a Presbyterian Church Deacon in Albany, Ga., Orlando, Fla., Alexandria, Va. and Montgomery. He was an active member of Trinity Presbyterian Church (Elder Emeritus), the Robert Strong Bible Class, Kappa Alpha Fraternity, Montgomery Area Chapter Military Officers’ Association of America, Order of Daedalians, Air Force Association, Disabled American Veterans, Veterans of Foreign Wars, The American Legion, Alabama Retired State Employees Association, Montgomery Golf Association, Capital City Optimist Club, Bell Road YMCA Fit for Life Class and the Alabama Republican Party. A generous and compassionate person, he was a Red Cross blood donor, delivered meals-on-wheels, served on the Montgomery Clean City Commission and contributed to many religious and charitable organizations. His family came first but he cherished the friendships he made in the various groups and organizations. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Howard Cody and Madge Farish Cody of Selma and a grandson Dale Howard Henderson. Survivors include: his wife of 72 years Elizabeth (Betty) Driskell Cody, Montgomery; one daughter Margaret S Henderson (Ron), Orlando Fla.; three sons, William E Cody (Sue) Fairhope, Howard E. Cody (Jr.) (Betty) Wetumpka, David S Cody Austin, Texas; his sister Sara C Gaskin (Jack-deceased) Blountstown, Fla.; two granddaughters Sara C. Baker (Ryan) Auburn and Kelli C. Thornton (Gray) Cody, Wyo.; six grandsons Ron F. Henderson (Jr.) Las Vegas, Nev., Cody L. Henderson (Dana) Boerne, Texas, Kyle E. Henderson (Shannon) Frisco, Texas, William E. Cody Jr (Meredith) Metairie, La., Howard E. Cody III (Allison) and Carl Cody, Montgomery and 17 great grandchildren.

The grandsons will serve as active pallbearers. The family would like to thank Dr Kirby Parker, Dr Scott McDaniel, the staff of Montgomery Cancer Center, caretakers from John Knox at Home and Amedisys Hospice for their compassionate care.

Visitation for family and friends will be conducted in the Westminster Room at Trinity Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. followed by a memorial service in the Trinity Main Sanctuary at 3 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one’s favorite charity or the Trinity Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 1728 South Hull Street, Montgomery, AL 36104.