EUGENE FRIEND, husband of EDITH IRENE VAN HART, passed away Wednesday January 23, 2019 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. He was born May 3, 1932, in Powell County, Kentucky, the son of Sidney Albert Friend and Ora Boyd. He served in the Armed Forces for two years during the Korean War as an Anti-Aircraft Artillery personnel. He came out with an Honorable Discharge and spent six years in the Army Reserve.

He was retired from Wiser Oil Company after 40 years of service. He was always very strong and enjoyed his work. When he was younger, he was an avid horseshoe player and won many trophies. Eugene had to take an early retirement because of a knee injury. He loved horseshoes so much and finally rigged up a golf club so he could pick up the horseshoe and played for a long time. He loved his family and all of his grand-kids.

For the past several years, Eugene had several health issues, but it never stopped him from enjoying his friends and people he met. He never saw a stranger. He was a member of the Church of God. Survivors are his wife Irene of 62 years, one daughter Linda Friend, two sons, Roger Eugene (Melissa) and Steven Ralph, three granddaughters, Jessica Friend, Lauren Nicole Friend, Jennie Elizabeth Hall Slone, one step granddaughter, Sarah Ginter, Vaske (Derek), two grandsons, Roger Scott Friend and Coy Allen Hall, and two great-grandsons, Dylan Creech and William Colten Townsend, one great-granddaughter, Deanna Makenzie Hammons. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Deanna Marie Friend, six brothers, James W. Friend, Sidney Ray Friend, Robert Friend, Edward Friend, William Friend, and Allen Friend.

He was a great father and grandfather and will be truly missed.