Gene DeLoach Obituary, Death – Gene DeLoach, 86, passed away on Sunday at home in the company of his devoted family. Parents William A. and Dessie A. DeLoach welcomed Gene into the world on December 31, 1927 in Beaufort. Gene is survived by his wife of 57 years, Frances Fitts DeLoach, two daughters, Marsha D. Peets (Erin) of Beaufort, SC, Kathy D. McKoy(Tony) of Beaufort, SC, four grandchildren, Matthew Gene Peets of Clemson, SC, Michael Lanvin Peets (Sarah) of Wilmington, NC, Chelsea Kathryn McKoy of Columbia, SC and Robert Gene McKoy of Beaufort, SC, one brother, Robert L. DeLoach of Beaufort, SC and many beloved nieces and nephews.
William B. DeLoach, a brother, and Elouise D. Conover, a sister, predeceased Gene. When Gene passed away, he was several weeks away from the arrival of Lilly Grace Peets, his first great-grandchild.Gene earned a BS in Textile Manufacturing from Clemson University in 1951 after graduating from Beaufort High School in 1944. After World War II, Gene enrolled in the Navy and departed Clemson in 1946.
After returning to Clemson in 1948 to complete his studies using the GI Bill, he was offered a job at Wundaweave in Greenville. A short time afterwards, he went back to Beaufort to work selling vehicles for his father. After his father passed away, Gene opened the Shack Drive In, where he served the first pizza and top-notch hamburgers in Beaufort. After running the Shack for many years and acquiring Garden City Supplies, he eventually sold it to Edwin Campbell.
Later, he established DeLoach Ace Hardware (Burton) and opened Broad River Fertilizer and Feed (Lobeco), running all three businesses until he and Frances retired in 1996.Gene served as the first commodore of the Beaufort Yacht & Sailing Club and was an enthusiastic sailor. He competed in regattas all along the coasts of SC and NC, winning numerous trophies.
