Gene Counts

Gene Counts of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, age 86, passed away peacefully on February 18, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of faith, resilience, service, and deep love for both family and the mountains he called home.

Born on October 19, 1939, in Bartlick, Virginia, to James and Hazel Counts. Raised in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, Gene came from humble beginnings. His father, Jim worked in the coal fields and lumber industry, including for the Yellow Poplar Company, instilling in Gene a strong work ethic. Gene grew up with a large Appalachian family.

On a foundation built from hard work and grit, Gene charted a path that would carry him far beyond the mountains yet always bring him back home. In 1965, he married the love of his life, Judy Counts. For over 60 years, their marriage stood as a quiet testimony to commitment and devotion. Their life together was marked by daily acts of love, long walks together, tennis matches that mixed competition with laughter, evenings spent bird watching, and time outdoors. Through every season of life, they endured and flourished together.

In his early adult years, Gene moved to Chicago, where he worked for the American Telephone and Telegraph company. He often found himself at Wrigley Field, indulging his lifelong love of sports. While living in Illinois, Gene attended the prestigious Northwestern University, earning his master's degree. Gene would travel back home to Southwest Virginia, where he would spend decades serving Dickenson and Buchanan County.

Gene devoted his professional life to the Dickenson and Buchanan County Public Schools system. Gene served as a teacher, administrator, vice principal, and ultimately principal of Clinchco Elementary School. To generations of students, he was more than an educator; he was a disciplinarian with compassion. Gene played a foundational role in helping establish the Haysi Community Medical Clinic; his name remains on a plaque there today as a testament to his dedication to rural healthcare access. As the founder of the Friends of the Russell Fork, he led water quality monitoring initiatives, secured grants from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to take on any threat to the local waterways. Gene worked with environmental science interns to restore the river's ecosystem. He kayaked the Class five rapids of the Russell Fork, for many years and remarkably, he continued to do so, well into his 80s.

He was a vocal opponent of destructive surface mining practices and worked along organizations to challenge mountaintop removal permits that endangered more than 1,000 acres of forest in the Russell Fork watershed.

Gene was also instrumental in promoting the Great Eastern Trail, a 2,000-mile hiking route. He partnered closely with Breaks Interstate Park to promote sustainable tourism. His vision was clear: perhaps its rivers and forests could economically sustain a beautiful future for generations to come.

He is survived by his loving wife of over 60 years, Judy Counts of Big Stone Gap, Virginia; his son Kevin of Allen, Texas; his daughter Gina of Stafford, Virginia; his brothers Dorse, Jerry, and Steve; his sisters Irene Baldwin and Jima Dunston; and his four grandchildren, James, Sarah, Nicholas, and Olivia.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Hazel Counts; brothers James and Kay Counts; sister Joan Counts; half-brothers Fearl, Lee, Harry, Vance, and Prince Counts; and half-sister Ruth Hutchinson.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date, with details to be shared when available.

Gene Counts and his family are in the care of Pennington Gap Funeral Home.