Coach Gene Hoon - Basketball Obituary (1928 - 2020)

Born May 13, 1928, Coach Gene Hoon - Basketball attended Omak High School in Omak, WA. View the obituary, post a memory, or share a photo about Coach Gene Hoon - Basketball.

Graduation Year	Class of 1946
Date of Birth	May 13, 1928
Date of Passing	Dec 04, 2020
About	Gene Hoon graduated from Grandview High School in 1946 1928-2020 Gene Hoon, 92, formerly of Omak, Wash. and most recently of Mesa, Ariz., went to his Heavenly home Dec. 4, 2020. He loved the Lord with all his heart and was such a kind and patient man. In the 66 years he and his sweetheart Julia were married he never once raised his voice or said an unkind word. He was born May 13, 1928 to Jenison and Goldie Dougherty Hoon in Satus, Wash. He grew up in Grandview and was named Outstanding Senior Athlete in high school. He attended Eastern Washington State College on a track scholarship. He served in the U.S. Army as a tank commander in the Korean War. His love of basketball shone through, as he managed to bring a basketball hoop with him from Washington all the way to base camp in Korea. After nailing it to a pole, he and many of his GI buddies appreciated being able to shoot hoops during their time away from military action. Upon coming home, he and Julia married in the Omak Presbyterian Church. Gene was one of the winningest basketball coaches in Omak High School history, serving as head coach for the Pioneers from 1956 to 1968. He took two teams to the state basketball tournament. In 1960, the team accomplished a perfect record in regular season play, 20-0. He also coached tennis and the Omak team won several championships. He helped organize weekly interdenominational breakfasts at the home of longtime pastor, Roger Meisner. Those Friday breakfasts became a tradition for years. He was also active in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. In 1968 he moved to Wenatchee, Wash. where he was a school administrator for 13 years.In 1981, he and Julia founded Financial Alternatives, working with hundreds of educators in North Central Washington, helping plan their retirements. At the age of 81, it was finally time for Gene to retire. He and Julia began their new life in Arizona. He loved golfing, serving in a men’s church breakfast group, and returning to Washington for Husky football games. In Heaven he gets to see his grandson — Linda’s son — Jacob, who has been there for 8 years. He is survived by his wife, Julia; son, Ron; and daughter, Linda; as well as six grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Events	For those with stories, memories, or photos of Gene, you are invited to share them on the Gene Hoon Memorial Page on Facebook