Eugene "Hugo" Berry

Eugene H. (Hugo) Berry went home to be with the Lord, Monday, March 13, 2024, after falling at home and breaking his hip on February 27th . He had 3 surgeries in a week and simply couldn’t overcome them. He fought so hard to stay with his beloved wife, Peggy. They were married 65 wonderful years with the actual anniversary being March 14th . He was 86 years old at the time of his death. He was born on November 4th , 1937, in Albertville, Alabama to Grover and Thelma Berry. He graduated from Gadsden High School in 1956. Upon graduating high school, he took a preference test and they said that he should either be a farmer or an engineer. People told him that Auburn would be the better place for engineering. He worked 45 hours a week while attending college and then switched to the Opelika Engineering Department where he could work four to six hours during semester and then full time in the summers. He made enough money to pay his way through 4 years of college. He began working for NASA in March 1961 after he graduated from Auburn. He was a NASA employee for 49 years. He had many accomplishments while at NASA and worked on many things that he was proud of. Some of his awards over the years included Exceptional Service Award, Exceptional Achievement Award and his most treasured, The Snoopy Award. During his years at NASA, he worked on Saturn I, Saturn V, Saturn VI Launch vehicles, Lunar Rover Vehicle, Apollo Space Telescope, Initial Upper Stage, and the Transfer Orbital Stage. He enjoyed his time with NASA at Redstone Arsenal. For his recreational time, he really enjoyed all kinds of sports through his lifetime. He played softball, bowled, took trampoline classes at Auburn, diving at Auburn, Snow skiing and his main love… GOLF. He was unable to play his beloved golf the last couple years due to physical ailments but supported his kids doing the sport he loved. He had a garden every year and made sure in his later years when he couldn’t do as much and the garden wasn’t as big, to make sure he planted the things Peggy loved to eat. He was always taking care of Peggy. He loved spending time with his family and was always glad they took the time to come see him. A very humble man, he never thought he deserved all the love he received. He loved his Atlanta Braves and went to as many games as he could, watching all other games if on the TV. He was a born again Christian and was very active in church in his younger years. Hugo, his older brother and one of his sisters all made their public profession of faith when they attended Calvary Baptist Church in East Gadsden. He was a member of Gilliam Springs Baptist Church for the last 41 years. He moved to Arab upon graduating from Auburn. When they first arrived in Arab, back in the 60’s and 70’s, the family attended First Baptist Church in Arab, where Hugo was a deacon, sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, Training Union, and RA’s. He coached a church basketball team in the early 70’s and even spoke of it recently and was still bragging about the boys on his team and how they beat the undefeated team. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Peggy C. Warnock Berry, Daughters: Shelieen (Mike) Penn and Delane Berry and his son Lance Berry. He is also survived by 2 grandsons: Chris (Becky) Penn and Greg Penn. He had 6 great-grandchildren: Leah Penn, John-Michael Penn, Bevin Penn, Allie Penn, Savannah Penn and Logan Penn. He is also survived by 2 sisters: Betty Traylor and Joanne Ellis and a host of nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Thelma Berry, brother Charles Berry and sister-in-law Ann Berry, as well as brothers-in-law: Leslie Ellis and Gene Traylor. Services for Hugo include a time for both a visitation and a funeral service. The visitation will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel. The funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2024, at Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel. He will lie-in-state from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. for visitors prior to service. Brother Jamey Pruett will be officiating. Burial will be in the Gilliam Springs Baptist Church cemetery. Pallbearers escorting Hugo to his final resting place will be Russ Gregory, Larry Gregory, Ken Gregory ,John Gregory, Jason Crawford, and Randy Wiggins. Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel, directing. In Lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Gilliam Springs Baptist Church Redstone Village Hospice St Jude’s Childrens Hospital Upcoming Events Visitation MAR 16. 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CT) Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel 1340 North Main Street Arab, AL 35016 Lie-In-State MAR 17. 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM (CT) Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel 1340 North Main Street Arab, AL 35016 Funeral Service Mar 17. 2:00 pm Arab Heritage Memorial Chapel 1340 North Main Street Arab, Al 35016

Eugene "Hugo" Berry

November 4, 1937 - March 13, 2024