Eugene Cosby, 85, of Waco went to be with the Lord on Saturday, December 6, 2008 at a local hospital. Services will be 10 a.m. Tuesday, December 9 at Connally/Compton Funeral Directors with Rev. Terry Cosby officiating. Interment with military honors will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home. Mr. Cosby was born July 9, 1923 in Rosebud to parents Virgil Carter and Medora Loring Collier Cosby. He was a veteran of WWII serving in the US Navy as a Gunners Mate 2nd Class aboard the heavy cruiser USS Minneapolis. He participated in the Battle of the Philippine Sea which included the Battle of Surigao Strait on October 25, 1944. Following his military service he married Olivia Smith on June 12, 1946 in Houston. Mr. Cosby was a retired sheet metal worker and recently received his sixty year pin from Sheet Metal Workers Local #54. He and his brothers were avid hunters and fishermen and he was known for his woodworking skills and love of bluebonnets. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who was very proud of his children and grandchildren. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by three brothers, Joe Ben, Paul and David Cosby. Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Olivia of Waco; three children, Ken Allen Cosby and wife Leslie of Bastrop; Michael Gene Cosby and wife Luz "Ging" of Waco; Daphene Rene` Atkins and husband Curtis of Thorndale; five brothers, Rufus Cosby of Auburn, CA; Lee Cosby and wife Geneva of Mertens; John Cosby and wife Lois of Alvarado; Wayne Cosby and wife Lanette of Grand Prairie; Tim Cosby and wife Janie of Mertens; six grandchildren, Luke, Joseph and Bradley Cosby and Jillian, Olivia and Levi Atkins. Pallbearers will be Luke Cosby, Joseph Cosby, B.J. Cosby, J.D. Waits, Johnny Lee Cosby and Fred Johnson. Honorary bearers will be Levi Atkins and two very special friends from the Navy, Morris Moore and Charlie Fant. The family requests memorials to Hillcrest Hospice of Waco.