Elmer Charles Friel, age 82, of Marlinton, passed away Wednesday, May 13, 2015, at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital in Buckeye, from complications of multiple myeloma. Born February 7, 1933, he was a son of the late Arthur Samuel and Hulda Irvine Sharp Friel. Elmer was a well-loved teacher and coach at both Marlinton High School and Pocahontas County High School. “Coach” led the 1967 MHS football team to its State Championship. That same year, his basketball team was the state runner-up. He was named TV-4 WOAY Coach of the Year in 1967 and Retired Coach of the Year in 1990 by the West Virginia Coaches Association. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Everett Wayne Friel and Eugene Arthur Friel; and a brother-in-law, George Mears. He is survived by his wife, Gwennie Blackhurst Friel, of Marlinton; a son, Rick Friel, and wife, Lori, of Knoxville, Tennessee; a daughter, Elaine Friel, and partner, Lisa Lewis, of Haymarket, Virginia; two grandchildren, Julianna Marie Friel and Jessica Rose Friel; a brother, Ernest H. Friel, and wife, Gatha, of Marlinton; and two sisters, Evilene Beverage, and husband, Roy, of Marlinton, and Eleanor “Betsy” Mears, of Leicester, North Carolina. Funeral service was May 19 at the Marlinton United Methodist Church with Pastor David Merryman officiating. Interment was in Mountain View Cemetery in Marlinton. Memorials may be made to the Elmer Friel Athletic Fund, c/o City National Bank, Eighth Street, Marlinton, WV 24954; or the Leukemia, Lymphoma Society, 404 BNA Drive, Suite 102, Nashville, TN 37217. Online condolences may be made at www.Lantzfuneralhome.com
![](https://pocahontastimes.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/25/2018/07/Join-community-PT.jpg")
