Seldon Eugene ‘Gene’ Moore went to the Lord on February 15, 2025. He was born May 21, 1939, the eldest of 3 sons, to Dwight E. and Dorothy E. (Shuster) Moore. He graduated in 1957 from Morral High School in Marion County, Ohio. He participated on the baseball and basketball teams and was valedictorian of his class. After graduation, he attended The Ohio State University in Marion and then completed his degree in Mathematics, along with minors in Science and Physical Education in 1961 on OSU’s campus in Columbus. His first year in Columbus he had the fortune to be in the same dormitory with members of the 1960 Ohio State Basketball National Champions. He fondly remembered beating Bobby Knight in ping pong and playing JV baseball with John Havlicek.
After graduation, Gene went on to teach and coach in 3 different Ohio school systems. He began his teaching & coaching career at Morral/Ridgedale. All throughout college and the first few years he taught, Gene continued to work weekends as a switchman for the Erie Lackawanna Railway. He and his family then moved to Galion, where he took their golf team to the state tournament. Gene then spent the next 22 years at Buckeye Central High School (New Washington, Crawford County, OH). Gene taught both Mathematics and Science, and was proud that many of his students achieved top 5 percentiles in the State of Ohio and were very active and successful in Science Fairs.
Gene served as head basketball coach at BCHS and as an assistant varsity football coach.
As the head varsity baseball coach he took consecutive teams to the regional finals in tournament play. Gene also was instrumental in starting the golf team at Buckeye Central and served as coach for many years. Two of his players went on to compete in the state finals. He was also proud to have been part of the junior high girls basketball program, where along with the St. Bernards’ program, laid the groundwork for extremely successful girls’ varsity programs, both in basketball and volleyball.
After retiring from teaching, Gene drove delivery routes for 30+ years for the Herald Printing Co., New Washington, Ohio. He learned all of the short cuts to every town in Ohio! He and his wife were long time members of a card club with their New Washington friends. Gene also came to channel his love of music by learning to play the clarinet and tenor saxophone and joining several area bands. These included the New Washington Town Band, Green Springs Band, Mansfield Mid-Ohio Band, Gang Band (also served as director), North Coast Concert & Big Bands (oldest member at the time of his death), and the Genoa Legion Band. With the Genoa Legion Band he loved playing for Veterans Honor Flights out of Toledo to Washington D.C. He could also be found playing in many local high school musicals in the orchestras.
For several years Gene owned and flew a small, two-seater Piper Colt airplane. He flew to and attended, along with aviation friends, fly-in conventions all over the United States associated with both the EAA and Ohio Short Wing Piper Club, of which he was a founding member. His wife attended many of these events with him including trips to several Oshkosh, Wisconsin International Fly-Ins. Gene also flew his plane, with his future son-in-law, to Alaska and back for the National Short Wing Piper Club bi-annual convention in 2001.
He could be found practicing his instruments, studying sheet music and playing golf (whenever the temperature was above 60!) right to the end of his life.
Gene is survived by his wife Sharon K. (Rider) of nearly 65 years, whom he married on June 21, 1960 at the First EUB Church in Marion, Ohio. He is also survived by daughter Kimberly Fischer (Rob), son Scott Moore, and grandsons Curtis Fischer and Michael Fischer. Gene (aka Papa) loved traveling to and attending all of Curtis’ and Micheal’s school activities while they were growing up. Gene is also survived by his two brothers Joe Moore (Karen) and Fred Moore (Carol), brother-in-law David Rider and nephews and nieces Jeff Moore(Kristi), Jim Moore(Lynne), Kami Diehl(Eric), Ann Moore, and Reid Moore(Jasmine).
Gene was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marie and Ralph Rider and nephew Todd Moore. He was laid to rest at a private family graveside service, near his parents, in Grand Prairie Cemetery, Marion Ohio. Arrangements were supported by Secor Funeral Homes, Willard, OH.
Memorials in Gene’s name can be made to the Music and/or Athletic Boosters of either Buckeye Central or Seneca East Schools by mailing a donation directly to the districts’ main addresses.
Condolences
Sharon Kay Moore - Apr 13, 2025
Thanks to all who left condolences for our family at the passing of Gene here and other places - facebook pages! Also, to those that did memorials, food and cards - everything is really appreciated by Gene's family!
Sharon Kay Moore - Apr 13, 2025
I feel especially bad I omitted the Bucyrus City Band from the bands Gene played in! We had a lot of fun attending those jobs at various nursing homes and assisted living homes they played at as a lot of the other bands Gene was in did. When Gene first jointed the New Washington Town Band a Prof. at Kent State from New Washington, Kenneth Cummins directed that band. Along with him, Bucyrus director Wally Brombacher- his wife, Sam Sabback, John Kennedy, Ed Wise and others from Bucyrus played in that band and we had lots of fun eating out afterwards with some of these players - some who played too with the NW Band!
Kristin - Mar 6, 2025
Our thoughts are with you Kim and family. I see where you got your smarts and sensibility. I wished I had meet your father, Gene. He filled a full, purposeful, dedicated life.
Keith - Mar 4, 2025
Mr Moore taught us IPS “Introductory Physical Science” in junior high. He made it fun! One assignment was to design a way to generate energy and transport it, along with a bunch of other requirements to meet. Come to find out we were learning about “Photosyntheses”! Condolences to the family. New Washington has lost another one of its great leaders.
Joan - Mar 4, 2025
I met Gene in North Coast Band. He was always friendly and I could tell he loved playing his clarinet. I don’t think he ever missed a practice. He will be missed - our sympathy to his family, a full life lived well.
Steve Paylor - Mar 4, 2025
Gene had an intensity when he taught 7th grade Math to his students. Here I am, 40 years later, and I remember him emphasizing 'the number line' when he showed us that numbers were from infinity to negative infinity, how and why numbers were definitively calculated. I only wish, I had played a sport, an instrument, or flew a plane under his guidance. As a kid, I didn't realize his breadth of influence. We're here for a minute in the universe, make it count. Gene sure did! Your example is a testament to excellence, diversity, longevity, and so much more. God speed Gene, may you rest in peace.
Loren and Carol - Mar 3, 2025
We have been friends with Gene for many years. Played with him in several bands. We will miss his friendship, his clarinet and saxophone playing. We are sure he has already found a new heavenly band. Gene will be dearly missed.
Dr. Michael Martin - Feb 28, 2025
Buckeye Central High School honors the life and legacy of Coach Gene Moore, a devoted educator, mentor, and coach whose unwavering dedication shaped generations of students. For 22 years, he taught science and mathematics with a rare combination of patience, passion, and high expectations. In the classroom, he challenged students to think critically and believe in their own potential. On the court, he instilled discipline, teamwork, and perseverance—lessons that extended far beyond the game. I was fortunate to have Coach Moore as both my math teacher and coach. He set a standard of excellence that pushed me to be better, not just as a student and an athlete, but as a person. His impact on my life, like so many others, was profound and lasting. Even in retirement, Coach Moore remained a constant presence at Buckeye Central. For the past ten years, he returned every year, volunteering his time to tutor students and coach young athletes. When asked why, his answer was always the same: I just want to give back. His selflessness was not a duty but a calling—one that he fulfilled with quiet strength and unwavering integrity. Coach Moore’s impact cannot be measured by wins or lesson plans but by the lives he touched. He was more than a teacher, more than a coach—he was a role model who led by example, showing us all what it means to live with honor, kindness, and purpose. His absence leaves a profound void, but his influence will endure in the halls of Buckeye Central, in the students he inspired, and in the community he so deeply loved. If we strive to live with even a fraction of the integrity he did, we will all be better for it. Rest in peace, Coach. Your legacy lives on.
Jim Wechter - Feb 27, 2025
In very Gene Moore-like fashion, he would not want his age just given, he would want us to calculate it...teaching at all times. Having played on Gene's golf team and having spent many of my adolescent years in the Moore household, I came to appreciate Gene's subtle tenacity for learning, teaching and taking on new challenges. What a decent man and an accomplished life! My sincere condolences to you Sharon, Scott and Kim.
Dave Danhoff - Feb 27, 2025
On behalf of the Seneca East Local Schools, we express our deepest sympathies for the passing of Mr. Moore. He was always willing to help our student-athletes become better as he had a wealth of knowledge in the sports arena. We will miss him attending our golf matches, and especially our girls and boys basketball games. We always had a special seat for him when he arrived. He lived a great life and made the difference in the lives of thousands of students. He certainly will be sincerely missed and may he rest in peace. A life well lived Mr. Moore! With great respect, Dave Danhoff Superintendent Seneca East Local Schools
John - Feb 27, 2025
I played Football under Coach Moore, he was a good man.
Darrin - Feb 27, 2025
Rest in peace Mr. Moore. A life brilliantly lived. You touched so many lives as a special teacher and coach. You made a difference.
John Wechter - Feb 27, 2025
I was a member of his first golf team and his basketball and football teams. He was a dedicated coach, great teacher and a good man. May he rest in peace and condolences to his family.
Charles Mohr - Feb 27, 2025
I have coached Elementary Basketball for 5 years and from year 1 Coach Moore was there to assist me in coaching and practices. His passion and positivity was a great benefit to the kids. On behalf of the 5th grade SE team and all other teams you volunteered your time for thank you Coach Moore. You will be missed
- Feb 27, 2025
Gino was one of our regulars on Monday mornings. Always willing to give advice and always an asset to any team that he happened to be on. He will be missed. May he rest in peace.
John Hines - Feb 27, 2025
Mr. Moore (“Gino”) was not only one of my favorite high school teachers (though I never had a class with him!), but also one of the kindest and most supportive influences in my life as a budding musician. He also exemplified what it meant to be dedicated to lifelong learning and improving ones self. Those of us who knew him as a musician and golf coach will remember or know of the late-night hours he spent in the high school janitor’s closet self-teaching himself to play his clarinet, or working on his funny-looking, left-handed golf game in the practice sand trap at Cranberry Hills on the hottest, stickiest days of summer. Everyone was Mr. Moore’s friend and knew his kind-spirited, unflappable spirit. I will always cherish the musical memories of playing the piano in his dixieland band, sitting opposite of him in the trumpet section of the New Washington town band, but forever his onstage clarinet solo during the infamous bottle dance in our high school production of Fiddler on the Roof. Rest well, Mr. Moore, but keep on playing!
Peggy M Opatken - Feb 27, 2025
I enjoyed playing in the New Washington band with Gene. May he rest in peace.
Kristi - Feb 27, 2025
Uncle Gene was a beautiful soul that will definitely be missed in the family. I have wonderful memories from “kissing” at our wedding he recorded to the latest of stopping into my home and meeting my dad. Lots of love care and memories. Uncle Gene will never be forgotten. Love and prayers for the family for today and days to come.
love always Kristi and Jeff
Richard d Jones jr. DJ - Feb 27, 2025
- Feb 27, 2025
Gene will be missed. Condolences God Bless
Elizabeth - Feb 26, 2025
Sorry for your loss . Mr. Moore was a great teacher.
Jim Forry. ,Sr & Patricia Lee - Feb 26, 2025
So sorry for your loss
