Howard Eugene "Gene" Medford

Howard Eugene “Gene” Medford, 89, of Nebo, North Carolina, passed away Monday, January 23, 2023 at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

Gene was born to the late John Clifton Medford and the late Elizabeth Ruth Hollifield Medford on November 6, 1933 in McDowell County where he lived his entire life. He met his wife, Barbara Anne Medford whom he married on January 30, 1954, the same year he entered the army. Gene was saved at Bethel Freewill Baptist Church when he was twenty-two years old and remained a dedicated Christian. He was a member of Bethel for over sixty years and served as a Sunday School teacher for thirty-five of those years and also served as a deacon. Gene worked as an engineer in the textile business.He loved to read, and was known for his dry sense of humor but was best known for mentoring young people. "Playing cowboy" was another one of the things he enjoyed. He always put everyone before himself even thru his own pain and suffering. Gene will be greatly missed by his family, friends and church family.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by sisters; Carolyn Peppers, Shirley Sowers, Joyce Blake and brothers Bill Medford and Harold Medford.

Those left to cherish his memory include his wife of sixty-nine years, Barbara Anne Presnell Medford; three children, Sherry Perego and husband Pablo, Stephen Medford and wife Marsha and Chris Medford and wife Kim; five grandchildren, Heather Ike (Robert), Stephanie Gentry (Sherman), Hillery Maher (Kevin), Dustin King (Joanna) and Matthew Medford and ten great grandchildren, Cody, Shane, Chase, Logan, Abby, Kainen, Stella, Rocco, Sebastian and Kullen.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 27, 2023 from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. at Bethel Free Will Baptist Church. A committal service and military honors will follow in the church.