Marion Lewis Gurkin, 80, passed away Wednesday, August 2, 2017 after months of great care at the Durham VA Hospital. He was born August 13, 1936 in Belhaven, NC to the late Claudius Erwin Gurkin and Mary Duke Gurkin. He served his country honorably in the US Air Force where he met his wife, Irene in Wiesbaden, Germany, and married her in Raleigh on September 1, 1960. Lewis was employed by Pine State Creamery for 25 years, worked another 25 years with Atlantic Dominion, and in retirement, he worked for years at the Mudcats Baseball Stadium.

In addition to his family, his greatest love was coaching little league sports at Lions Park in Raleigh. “Coach” Gurkin taught sportsmanship and more through baseball, basketball and football to area youth throughout the 1960s and 70s before moving on to umpiring at Wilders Grove Park in the 1980s and 90s. Always committed to community service, Lewis was also a 37-year member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary and enjoyed many rounds of golf as a ranger at Zebulon Country Club.

A service to celebrate his life will be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, August 6, 2017 at Zebulon United Methodist Church where he was a member, 121 W. Gannon Ave. in Zebulon. The family will receive relatives and friends in the church fellowship hall following the service. An inurnment will take place on a later date at Gethsemane Memorial Gardens.

Mr. Gurkin is survived by a son, Ralph Lewis Gurkin of New York; daughter Sylvia Gurkin Dail of Raleigh; and prized grandchildren; Sean Louis Dail and Stephanie Irene Dail; as well as his favorite nephew, Rick Gurkin of Garner.

In addition to his parents, Lewis was preceded in death by his wife, Irene Zwick Gurkin, who always kept him in line.

Contributions may be made in his memory to his church.

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