Eugene Stewart

Eugene Collier Stewart lost his fight with Parkinson’s disease on Tuesday, May 7th at the age of 92. A Celebration of Life Service will be 3:00PM Friday, May 10, 2013, at the Coats Baptist Church. A private graveside service in Greenwood Cemetery will precede the church service. Mr. Stewart was a life-long resident of Coats, N.C., and the son of the late Guy and Estelle Collier Stewart of Coats.  He is survived by his wife of 70 ½ years, Mary McArtan Stewart, formerly of Dunn, N.C. Eugene was an active member of Coats Baptist Church, where he was a former deacon and Sunday School teacher.  He attended Campbell College while pursuing his passion for aviation.  He began flying at age 17 and continued to be an active flight instructor well into his 80’s.  A civilian flight instructor teaching Army Air Corps cadets in WWII, he later joined the Army Air Corps himself for the duration of the war.  Eugene’s passion for flying continued throughout his life, and he thoroughly enjoyed teaching countless students the excitement and fulfillment of flight.  His favorite students were his three children and a grandson.  His favorite flight was for his 80th birthday, he did 80 consecutive barrel rolls in a RV4 airplane. After the war ended, he joined his father’s automotive dealership.  Under his leadership, Coats Motor Company earned several top Chrysler corporate awards for excellence in sales and service.  Eugene was involved in his community and was a member of several civic organizations, including Palmyra Masonic Lodge in Dunn.  He was a charter member of the Coats Volunteer Fire Department, where he served 23 years as Assistant Chief and later Chief. In addition to his wife, other family survivors include sons, Don Stewart of Coats (Teresa) and Ken Stewart of Raleigh (Penny); his daughter, Lu-Ann Stewart Lesley of Raleigh (Todd); his grandchildren, Brian Stewart of Benson (Amy), Brad Stewart of Coats, Lori Stewart Brown of Coats (Jason), Stephen Stewart of Raleigh, Susan Stewart of Raleigh, and Sarah Gray Lesley of Raleigh.  Also surviving are his great grandchildren, Emma and Ethan Stewart of Benson; his sister, Christine Stewart Parrish of Coats; his two nephews, four nieces, and many cousins.   In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Coats Baptist Church, PO Box 297, Coats, NC 27521, or to your favorite charity in Mr. Stewart’s honor.