Gene Coen

Eugene W. Coen, Sr., 80, passed away Monday, October 21, 2019 at Hospice Haven in Rockingham. He was born November 4, 1938, a son of the late G.E. and Bertha Ross Coen.

Gene was a member of First Baptist Church in Rockingham, where he served as a Deacon, was very involved in the church bus ministry, and participated on a number of other committees. He was a member of Rockingham Masonic Lodge # 495, where he was a past Master. Gene was a veteran, serving in the U. S. Army with the 82nd Airborne Military Police. Gene joined the North Carolina Highway Patrol, working in Onslow County, Hoke County, Moore County, and Richmond County. He was promoted to Line Sergeant in Moore County and First Sergeant in Richmond County, retiring in 1988. After retirement, Gene worked with the Richmond County Sheriff’s Department DARE program, and was the Richmond County Schools’ SAFE Schools Coordinator. He was a Parks and Recreation baseball coach for a number of years and the golf coach at Richmond Senior High School for several years. He served on the board at the Samaritan Colony.  Early in his career and working in Hoke County, Gene was the Fire Chief of the North Raeford Fire Department.

Services will be conducted 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 24th at First Baptist Church in Rockingham with Rev. Jack Lee officiating. The family will be at the church to see friends prior to the service starting at 12:30 pm. Entombment will follow the service at Richmond Memorial Park concluding with honors by the North Carolina Highway Patrol.

Gene is survived by his wife of forty two years, Janice Goodman Coen; son, Jason Coen, wife Crystal and their children, Jacob and Allie; son, Wayne Coen, Jr., wife Lisa, and their son, Wayne Coen III of Gauley Bridge, WV; son, Edwin Coen and his daughter Karen of Pinehurst; daughter, Edwina Young, husband Rob, of Raleigh, and their son, Christopher Young, wife Molly, of Charlotte; and two brothers, Delno Coen and wife Sharon of Bickmore, WV and Mike Coen and wife Kwi of Raeford. Gene was preceded in death by a daughter, Genie Alice Coen, and a brother, Roger Coen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to First Baptist Church Organ Fund, 201 N. Randolph St., Rockingham, NC 28379.

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