Carl Austin "Coach" Bawgus

Carl Austin “Coach” Bawgus, 95, of Naoma, WV, passed away on Monday, November 18, 2024, at Bowers Hospice House, Beckley, WV, with his son, Jerry, by his side.  Carl was born on May 25, 1929, in Johnson City, Tennessee, to the late Claude Robert and Mary Elizabeth Rowland Bawgus.  He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Milam Bawgus; father/mother-in-law, Garrett and Sylvia Tabor; sisters-in-law, Ardeth Vaughn and Bonnie Tabor; and niece, Becky Plantz. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis Tabor Bawgus; son, Jerry Dean and wife Debby; grandson, Jeremy David; granddaughter, Jennifer Renee and fiancé Rodney Smith; his pride and joy, great-granddaughter, Jaidyn Alexis, a junior at WVU; sisters-in-law/brothers-in-law, Ann Daniel, Sue and Richard Cowley, and Garry Tabor; special niece, Melody Daniel; many nieces/nephews; and caregiver/friend, Lori Ash. Carl was a devoted family man, always up for cookouts, birthday parties, family events, and all activities that involved Jeremy, Jennifer, and Jaidyn.  He always had a sense of humor and antics that entertained all.  In his later years, he dedicated his life to God, attending and supporting the Naoma United Methodist Church.  Until his health began to decline, he attended many church services at various local churches. Carl attended kindergarten in Piney Flats, Tennessee.  His family moved to West Virginia and he attended 1st grade at Edwight School.  He was a 2nd grade through 6th grade student at Montcoal-Stickney Grade School.  He attended Marsh Fork High School in grades 7-12, graduating in the class of 1948.  While in high school he excelled in football, basketball, and baseball.  He was also a member of MFHS Student Council, Varsity “M” Club, and starred in his Junior class play. After graduation he enlisted in the US Navy, serving from 1948-1952.  Upon completion of basic training in Michigan, he was assigned to the USS Algol, where he spent four years traveling the world.  After his stint in the Navy he moved back to Stickney, WV, and began working in the mines at Edwight.  When the mines started laying off, he moved to Cleveland, Ohio, working on an assembly line in a factory.  He returned to WV and enrolled at WV Tech in Montgomery in 1954, graduating in 1956 with a degree in Industrial Arts.  He started his teaching career at Surrettsville High School in Clinton, Maryland, in 1956.  In 1957, he began teaching math at Mt. View Jr. High.  In 1958, he accepted a position teaching Industrial Arts and Mechanical Drawing at Marsh Fork High.  During the 1960s, he spent his summers at WVU, graduating with a masters degree in Counseling.  He became Guidance Counselor at Marsh Fork High in 1976, remaining in that position until his retirement in 1988. While teaching at Marsh Fork High, he coached football, basketball, baseball, and track.  One of his most successful teams was the 1974 basketball squad that finished as WV state runner-up.  In 2018, he was named to the Marsh Fork High School Hall of Fame.  In 2019, he was honored at the WV All Sports Administration for WV Sports Legends. Viewing will be at Marsh Fork Elementary, Rock Creek, WV, on Monday, November 25, from 5:00-8:00 and an hour before the service on Tuesday.  A celebration of Carl’s life will be Tuesday, November 26, at 1:00, at Naoma United Methodist Church, Naoma, WV, with Rev. Lynn Halstead, Rev. Opie Workman, and Rev. Ron Acord officiating.  Pallbearers will be Jeremy Bawgus, Rodney Smith, Garry Tabor, Joey Wills, Matt Epling, Tim Vaughn, Carl Ray Jarrell, and Michael Watson.  Honorary pallbearers will be Richard Cowley, Gratton Daniel, and Greg Daniel.  Coach will be recognized with gravesite military funeral honors before being laid to rest in Miller Cemetery, Rock Creek, WV, beside his father and mother.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospice of Southern WV, 454 Cranberry Drive, Beckley, WV 25801, or to Naoma United Methodist Church, PO Box 54, Naoma, WV  25140. 

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