Coble Eugene Sears, 80, of Columbia, passed away Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Born March 20, 1932 in Birch River, WV, he was a son of the late Coble James Sears and Nellie Collins Sears. Mr. Coble retired from the US Army in 1975 after having served in the Vietnam War. A member of Spears Creek Baptist Church, he was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting and fishing. His family and friends knew him as "King of the River."

Survivors include his sons, Roy (Pat) Sears of Columbia, Jim (Loretta) Sears of Columbia, Ray (Anne) Sears of Florida, Eugene Sears of Myrtle Beach; daughters, Nellie Sears of TN and Sue Carter of Columbia; sisters, Betty (Michael) Bright and Edith Tonkin both of WV; a brother, Jim Collins of WV; aunt, Emma Jean Squires of WV; grandchildren, Dreama, Jessie & Zack Sears. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Magdalena Sears.

A graveside service for Mr. Coble will be held at 2 o'clock, Sunday, January 6, 2013 at Spears Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 116 Spears Creek Church Lane, Elgin, SC with The Rev. Gregg Sweet officiating. The family will receive friends from 4 until 6 o'clock Saturday afternoon at Shives Funeral Home, 5202 Colonial Drive, Columbia.