Gene was born in New Bethlehem, PA on August 6, 1936. He attended Red Bank High School and then Eastern Baptist College. Gene continued his educational journey with a teaching certificate and a Master of Arts degree from Trenton State College and a Master of Divinity from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Gene was ordained as an Elder in June of 1991.
Gene moved to Trenton, NJ in 1960 to begin his career as a music teacher. Gene taught middle school music for 24 years followed by kindergarten music for an additional 3 years in the New Jersey school system. Gene was also the high school wrestling coach at Lakewood High School. Gene was inducted into the Lakewood Athletic Hall of Fame for his accomplishments in coaching. Gene retired from teaching in 1987 and went back to school to earn his Masters in Divinity and began his second career as a Methodist minister which lasted 17 years. Gene officially retired from the ministry in 2001. Gene never lost his love for music and was a member of several local bands - The Ocean County College Concert Band, Pineland Symphonic Band and the Lakewood Municipal Band playing the trumpet. Gene was the choir director at several churches and gave private music lessons. Gene also played guitar, piano, French horn, and the recorder.
Gene lived a life full of family, God and music. Gene loved children, camping, Roy Rogers, Penn State, wrestling, Broadway musicals, and of course, playing with his seven great-grandchildren. Gene never met a person that he didn’t start a conversation with. He loved to talk and considered everyone his friend. Gene also made many new friends through music. On family camping trips, Gene would pull out his guitar and start singing around the campfire. Everyone who could hear his song felt drawn to the warmth of his voice and the glow of the fire.
Gene was predeceased by his parents, Lester and Helen Eberhart. He is survived by his wife of 48 years Nelda Eberhart, his sister Beverly Calhoun and 3 nephews. Gene is also survived by his children Donna (John) VanPelt, Carla (Chris) Coyne, Roxanne (Ed) Lynn, Beth Eberhart, Michael (Daniel) Eberhart, John Mohr, his 8 grandchildren Christopher Coyne, Amanda Lynn, Rebecca VanPelt, Jessica Hooper, Tim VanPelt, Katlyn Lynn, Tanner Mohr, Rose Mohr and 7 great-grandchildren Kieran, Eliza, Penny, Charlie, Connor, Maven and Daisy.
A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 10:00-11:00 with a prayer service at 11:00am at the Thos L. Shinn Funeral Home, 10 Hilliard Dr., Manahawkin, NJ. Committal service will follow immediately at Ocean County Memorial Park, Waretown, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Jude’s Children's hospital in Gene’s memory.
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