Eugene Willis Overton

Dr. Eugene Willis Overton

Dr. Eugene Willis Overton, beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, doctor, andfriend died at home on August 18, 2020 surrounded by his family. He is survived by hiswife of 54 years Ruth Cusworth Overton; six children: William Edward Overton,James (Jay) Cusworth Overton, Joseph (Josh) Willis Overton, David Young Overton,Emily Overton King, and Robert Gordon Overton; and eleven grandchildren. Dr. Overton graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in Richmond (Class of 1961), Yale University (Classof 1965), and Colgate Rochester Divinity School (Class of 1968). He received his Doctor of Medicine from theUniversity of Virginia School of Medicine (Class of 1971), spent the first year of his residency at the MedicalCollege of Virginia in Richmond, and finished his residency at the University of Virginia as one of the firstgraduating classes of the new program in Family Practice. Dr. Overton practiced medicine with heart andcompassion and treated the whole patient, not just the disease. From 1971 to 1973, Dr. Overton served as adoctor on active duty in the United States Navy, rising to the rank of Captain, and then in the naval reserves for12 years. In 1976, the Overtons moved toReston, Virginia. Dr. Overton practiced medicine in Fairfax County forthe next 42 years, the majority of which were atHeritage Family Practice. Dr. Overton was a true Renaissanceman—a physician, intellectual, sage, historian, and athlete—and a lover of books, words, music, flowers, birds,butterflies, and the Nats.

Dr. Overton was laid to rest on August 21, 2020 in the Overton family plot at Lakewood Cemetery in BowlingGreen, Virginia. The family hopes to hold a public memorial in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations can besent to the Reston Chorale, Equal Justice Initiative, or Together for Tanzania (www.togetherfortanzania.org).