Gene Charles Methven died Sept. 11, 2015.

He was born Sept. 29, 1947, half an hour after his fraternal twin Allen to surprised parents Eugene and Barbara. He grew up in Renton, graduated from Renton High School in 1966, attended Highline Community College and worked at Ernst Hardware until he joined the Army. He studied electronics at a base in New Jersey and was then stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Following military service, graduated from Central Washington State College and was hired by the Enumclaw School District where he taught math at the middle school level for 32 years. He also coached wrestling, ran the district’s ski school program, served on many committees and was elected as vice president and bargainer for the Enumclaw Education Association, positions he held for many years. During his younger years he enjoyed fishing, hiking and camping with his family and the Laybourn family. He especially enjoyed trips with his father. In 1996 a virus attacked his heart, ultimately resulting in a heart transplant in 2009. Since the transplant, he enjoyed solving Sudoku puzzles, watching old Westerns on TV, reading murder mysteries, going to lunch and movies and spending time with his two families, the Methvens and the Laybourns.

He is survived by brother Allen (Jill), sister Pam (Dan Whitted) and life partner Janis Laybourn and her family: brother Roger (Donna) and sister Cristie (John Neal).

A celebration of his life is planned for 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 27, at the VFW Hall in Enumclaw. As he would have wanted, it will be a potluck. Arrangements are being made for a math scholarship in his name. Donation details will be available on the Weeks’ Funeral Home website next month.