Garth Cone
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
He was born March 3, 1947, in Warsaw, to Charles C. and Betty Hamsher Cone. On Sept. 3, 1966, he married Cinda Wright, who survives.
He was a 1965 graduate of Pierceton High School and received a bachelor's degree in physical education from Taylor University in 1969, where he played four years of varsity basketball and baseball. He was also named to the Taylor University Hall of Fame. He was hired in 1969 as a science teacher at Alexandria Junior High School. He received his master's degree from Ball State University in 1976. From 1969 to 1976, he served as football, baseball and basketball assistant coach or coach at the junior high and freshmen level. In 1976, he applied for the head basketball coach's position. He was hired and began what was to become a rich tradition of basketball for Alexandria. He retired from the head coaching position at the end of the 2004-2005 season.
For the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, Garth served as a district representative from 1992-1993 and president from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, he was named Indiana Basketball Assistant All-Star coach. He retired from the Alexandria school system in 2008. He returned as varsity basketball coach to begin the 2008 season. Garth's basketball philosophy was built around three basic ideas: 1) hard work, 2) repitition of fundamentals and 3) dedication to the goal of taking young boys and developing them into young men who will become citizens of which the community can be proud. Expanding on principle 3, Garth founded the Tiger Readers program in the 1990s which coupled reading and athletics in the Alexandria school system. This program has been duplicated all over the state of Indiana.
He was a member of the Christian Congregational Church of Alexandria and had been active in the athletic programs of the church.
Garth Cone's husky voice and huge heart have made a difference in thousands of lives. Now the ball is in our court...
Also surviving are two sons, Thad (and spouse Laury) Cone, Alexandria, and Rodney (and spouse Monica) Cone, Auburn; a daughter, Krista (and spouse Kent) Baledge, Alexandria; eight grandchildren, Mallory Cone, Drake Cone, Hunter Cone, Jessi Dalley, Jennifer Dalley, Madison Moore, Morgan Moore and Lillie Cone; great-grandson, Gavin Waters; his mother, Betty Cone, Columbia City; father-in-law, Dale Wright, Pierceton; brothers, Dana (and spouse Kathy) Cone, Syracuse and Kent and Todd Cone, both of Pierceton; a sister, Carla Freel, Roanoke, sister-in-law, Janet (and spouse Brent) Leifer, Maryland; brother-in-law, Hal (and spouse Mary) Wright, Pierceton. He was preceded in death by a mother-in-law Doris Wright and nephew, Evan Freel.
A celebration of life service will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the Alexandria-Monroe High School gymnasium, 1 Burden Court with Pastor Jerry Young officiating. Private graveside services will be at Park View Cemetery in Alexandria.
Calling is Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. at Alexandria-Monroe High School Gymnasium. The family has asked all in attendance on Friday to wear Alexandria Tiger School colors. Visitors calling from 2 to 4 p.m. are asked to park in the east parking lot, after 4 p.m. visitors are asked to park in the west parking lot.
Owens Funeral Home, Alexandria, is in charge of arrangements.
*****
Memorials to the Alexandria-Monroe High School basketball program through the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to owenmemorialservices.com[[In-content Ad]]
Latest News
E-Editions
He was born March 3, 1947, in Warsaw, to Charles C. and Betty Hamsher Cone. On Sept. 3, 1966, he married Cinda Wright, who survives.
He was a 1965 graduate of Pierceton High School and received a bachelor's degree in physical education from Taylor University in 1969, where he played four years of varsity basketball and baseball. He was also named to the Taylor University Hall of Fame. He was hired in 1969 as a science teacher at Alexandria Junior High School. He received his master's degree from Ball State University in 1976. From 1969 to 1976, he served as football, baseball and basketball assistant coach or coach at the junior high and freshmen level. In 1976, he applied for the head basketball coach's position. He was hired and began what was to become a rich tradition of basketball for Alexandria. He retired from the head coaching position at the end of the 2004-2005 season.
For the Indiana Basketball Coaches Association, Garth served as a district representative from 1992-1993 and president from 1994 to 1995. In 1995, he was named Indiana Basketball Assistant All-Star coach. He retired from the Alexandria school system in 2008. He returned as varsity basketball coach to begin the 2008 season. Garth's basketball philosophy was built around three basic ideas: 1) hard work, 2) repitition of fundamentals and 3) dedication to the goal of taking young boys and developing them into young men who will become citizens of which the community can be proud. Expanding on principle 3, Garth founded the Tiger Readers program in the 1990s which coupled reading and athletics in the Alexandria school system. This program has been duplicated all over the state of Indiana.
He was a member of the Christian Congregational Church of Alexandria and had been active in the athletic programs of the church.
Garth Cone's husky voice and huge heart have made a difference in thousands of lives. Now the ball is in our court...
Also surviving are two sons, Thad (and spouse Laury) Cone, Alexandria, and Rodney (and spouse Monica) Cone, Auburn; a daughter, Krista (and spouse Kent) Baledge, Alexandria; eight grandchildren, Mallory Cone, Drake Cone, Hunter Cone, Jessi Dalley, Jennifer Dalley, Madison Moore, Morgan Moore and Lillie Cone; great-grandson, Gavin Waters; his mother, Betty Cone, Columbia City; father-in-law, Dale Wright, Pierceton; brothers, Dana (and spouse Kathy) Cone, Syracuse and Kent and Todd Cone, both of Pierceton; a sister, Carla Freel, Roanoke, sister-in-law, Janet (and spouse Brent) Leifer, Maryland; brother-in-law, Hal (and spouse Mary) Wright, Pierceton. He was preceded in death by a mother-in-law Doris Wright and nephew, Evan Freel.
A celebration of life service will be at 7 p.m. Friday in the Alexandria-Monroe High School gymnasium, 1 Burden Court with Pastor Jerry Young officiating. Private graveside services will be at Park View Cemetery in Alexandria.
Calling is Friday from 2 to 7 p.m. at Alexandria-Monroe High School Gymnasium. The family has asked all in attendance on Friday to wear Alexandria Tiger School colors. Visitors calling from 2 to 4 p.m. are asked to park in the east parking lot, after 4 p.m. visitors are asked to park in the west parking lot.
Owens Funeral Home, Alexandria, is in charge of arrangements.
*****
Memorials to the Alexandria-Monroe High School basketball program through the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent to owenmemorialservices.com[[In-content Ad]]
Have a news tip? Email [email protected] or Call/Text 360-922-3092