Eugene William Louden
March 25, 1956-January 11, 2025
Eugene William (loving known as Bill) Louden, 68 of Joplin Missouri passed away from cancer on
January 11, 2025.
He was born in Alba, Missouri to Eugene Virgil Louden and Betty Crane Louden. He attended Webb
City High School before enlisting in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17 in 1973. He
served in Okinawa and the Philippines where he discovered a love of diving and expressed the beauty
he found in the ocean which his son Billy shared and loved to fish. He was stationed in El Toro,
California where he was a KC130 Turbo Prop Engine Mechanic. He always had a passion for aircraft
and military history and even shared his knowledge still in his last days with his daughter who he was
immensely proud of. His love of aircraft and flying he shared with his sons and his last wish was to go
RC Flying with them one last time in the spring. He served his country for 20 years and retired in 1994
as a Gunnery Sergeant just a couple days before the birth of his son Christian. He resided in Yuma,
Arizona until 2005 and then returned to reside in Joplin.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Betty Louden of Alba, Mo. His brother John
Leroy Louden of Atwood, Illinois and his brother Pat Louden of Alba, Mo. He is survived by his sister
Mary Louden of Alba, Mo. And his children William Louden & wife Audra of Jewett, Texas, David
Louden of San Diego, California, Victoria Lauren Louden of Yuma, Arizona, Christian Robert Louden of
Joplin, Mo., Tyler Dean Louden of Joplin, Mo. And his grandson Will Louden of Jewett, Texas
There will be a private family graveside service at Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Springfield Missouri where he will be remembered with full Military Honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Ozark Memorial Park of Joplin, MO.