Gerald Dean Poynter

Gerald Dean Poynter, family man, educator, coach, and community supporter passed away Thursday, September 21, 2017 in the care of Hospice of Western Kentucky.

Born in Stroud, Kentucky in 1938, Coach Poynter's family moved to Owensboro when he was a child. He developed a relationship with the coaching staff of Owensboro High School while playing at Foust Junior High. With their support, he went on to play football at OHS where he graduated in 1957. Jimmy Feix, assistant coach at Western Kentucky University, recruited Coach Poynter and he became a player for the Hilltoppers under head coach Nick Denes. He continued his love for the sport of football as an assistant coach at Bowling Green High School for two years. His next and final move came from an opportunity provided by head coach Ralph Genito to return to his hometown and alma mater to coach and teach biology. He was the head coach of the Red Devils from 1965 to 1976 and again from 1988 to 1995. He served in the Marine Corps Reserve from 1957 to 1962. Coach Poynter was a member of Settle Memorial United Methodist Church and spent his retirement from education employed by Sheffer Law Firm.

Remaining to honor his memory are his wife of 52 years, Anne Eastin Poynter; his children Allyson Karn and her husband John of Whitesville, Leigh Anne Littlefield and her husband Mike of Bowling Green, and Brad Poynter and his wife Suzanne of San Antonio; his grandchildren Parker Humphrey, Jackson Littlefield, Bella Karn, Eastin Littlefield, Annabelle Poynter, Eloise Poynter, and another grandchild due in December. His mother, Thelma Mae Poynter and his brother, Jack Franklin Poynter, preceded him in death.

The funeral service for Coach Poynter will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday at Glenn Funeral Home and Crematory where visitation will be from 3:00 until 7:00 p.m. Monday. Private interment will be in Elmwood Cemetery. To support the development of Owensboro High School football players, expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Owensboro High School Football Program c/o the Foundation for Excellence, Owensboro Independent Schools, 450 Griffith Avenue, Owensboro, KY 42301.