Overton, Conservative Club co-founder, dies Sunday

Dr. Eugene Overton

Services for Dr. Eugene Edward Overton of Lampasas will be at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, Calif. Burial will be with full military honors.

Overton died Dec. 2, 2007, at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston after a lengthy battle with melanoma cancer and participating in clinical trials to further advance the treatment of the disease.

He was politically active in Republican and conservative organizations, conservation societies and enjoyed maintaining a working ranch in Lampasas. He and a friend, the late Chick Chiappori, cofounded the Lampasas County Conservative Club.

Overton was born Dec. 10, 1931, in Minneapolis, Minn., to Robert Edward and Myrtle A. Overton. He was reared in Encinitas, Calif., and graduated from San Dieguito High School.

He attended college at San Diego State University and The College of Physicians and Surgeons at the University of the Pacific, earning a doctor of dental surgery degree.

Overton entered the U.S. Army Dental Corps, completing his internship, residency and fellowship in maxillofacial surgery. He retired from the military a full colonel in 1980 and established a private practice in Copperas Cove, from which he retired in 1992.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Josie; two children, Jennifer Ellis of Temple and Jeffrey Overton of Austin; four grandchildren, Justin Ellis, Morgan Ellis, Christopher Overton and Corey Overton; and two brothers and one sister, John Overton of Dallas, Kenneth R. Overton of Aloha, Ore., and Beverly Claussen of Encinitas, Calif., and their extended families.

The family requests memorials be made to M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston or the University of the Pacific in Stockton, Calif.