Dr. Eugene “Gene” Frank Gulish, a man who dedicated his life to helping others and in his quiet moments enjoyed working on his farm and with his bees, passed away on June 7, 2022, at the age of 85.
Gulish was said by friends and family to have lived “an extraordinary life.” As an orthopedic surgeon, he would travel to Africa to offer his surgical skills to those in need. He also served his country as an army orthopedic surgeon at Fort Polk during the Vietnam War. He was also a farmer and a beekeeper.
Gulish was born on January 10, 1937, in Curtice, Ohio. He grew up on a small farm and graduated from Clay High School in 1955. He was the first person in his family to graduate from high school.
He attended the University of Michigan and then earned his medical degree from The Ohio State University. He met his wife, Christina, while completing his residency at Los Angeles County General Hospital. They married in 1967.
It was after his residency that he served in the army. He received the Army Commendation Medal in 1971. After being discharged, he and his wife moved to Sebastopol, California, where he was an orthopedic surgeon at Palm Drive Hospital for 22 years.
In 1994, he was recruited by Henry County Medical Center in Paris, Tennessee. When he and his family visited the area, they fell in love with the community and decided to make the move. He served there for over 20 years.
Once he retired from Henry County Medical Center, he worked another two years in McKenzie and Huntingdon. His last few years were spent working on his farm, beekeeping, gardening, and enjoying his family.
Dr. Gulish was preceded in death by his parents, Bill and Geraldine, his sister Gerry and his son-in-law, Sonny Melton. He is survived by his wife, Chris, and his five children, Heather Melton of Big Sandy, Erin Gulish of Nashville, Laurel Beckham of Stone Mountain, Georgia, Jesse Gulish and Kristopher Gulish of Puryear, Tennessee, as well as 10 grandchildren, two great-grandchildren,his brother Bill and his sisters, Susie and Laraine.
