Harold "Gene" Eugene Abercrombie

Harold Eugene "Gene" Abercrombie, 86, of Statesville, passed away February 23, 2017 at the Gordon Hospice House after battling Parkinson's for many years.    Gene was born to the late Fred J. Abercrombie and Virginia Baker Abercrombie.  He graduated from Shelby High School in 1948, and graduated from Lenoir Rhyne College in 1952 where he played football for the legendary coach Clarence Stasavich. Gene joined the US Marine Corp and served during the end of the Korean conflict.  He returned stateside, married Donna Setchfield Abercrombie in 1956 and over the years they raised four children.  Gene attended UNC-Chapel Hill to earn his master's degree.  During his 35-year career he taught and coached at High Point High, Burlington-Wiliams High, West Mecklenburg High, and Statesville High Schools where he was known as "Coach Ab".  Coaching football and wrestling were his passions.  He treasured the connections made with his co-workers in the faculty lounge at Statesville Senior High.  Gene loved his community, and was so pleased to be a founding member the Statesville YMCA.  He was humbled by the honors he received during his lifetime including the NC Football Coaches Hall of Fame, and the Iredell County Sports Hall of Fame; but he never took off his Championship Ring from the football players of the 1972 team. Coach enjoyed singing, playing the guitar and the harmonica.  After retirement in 1991, the drug store and barber shop became his home away from home where jokes were always shared.  He was a member of First Baptist Church Statesville where he served as a Deacon and was member of the Pioneer Sunday School Class.  Gene was also a member of the Bear's Club at Lenoir Rhyne. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Steve Abercrombie, in 2001. Left to cherish his memory is his wife of 60 years, Donna his children, Sharon Abercrombie of East Bend, Wade (Cindy) Abercrombie of Concord, and Morris (Alanna) Abercrombie of Conover; and six grandchildren Heather, Zachre, Kaitlin, and Riley Abercrombie, Dylan Hawkins, and Carrigan Lay. Funeral services for Coach will be held 3:00 pm Sunday, February 26, 2017 at First Baptist Church with Rev. Dr. Nelson Grenade officiating.  The family will visit with friends in Adams Hall prior to the service from 1:00-2:45pm.  Burial with military honors will be held 11:30 am, Monday, February 27, 2017 at Cleveland Memorial Park in Boiling Springs, NC In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Iredell County, 2347 Simonton Rd., Statesville, NC 28625, or First Baptist Church, 815 Davie Ave., Statesville, NC 28677.  Online condolences may be made to the family at www.nicholsonfunerals.com . Nicholson Funeral Home is serving the family.