WILLIAMSON - With large crowds coming both days in one of the largest funerals in the recent history of Williamson, family, friends, fellow police officers and the Williamson High School football team paid their final respects to Coach David Tincher this past weekend.

Well in excess of over 1,500 people came out on Saturday night to attend Tincher’s wake at the Williamson Memorial Fieldhouse and to express their condolences to his wife Joanne and his three children.

“This turnout speaks volumes about David Tincher’s life,” said WHS Head Football Coach C. Douglas Ward. “It’s unbelievable the number of people he knew and touched.”

The wake and funeral were held at the Williamson Memorial Fieldhouse in West Williamson, partly as a tribute to Tincher’s love of the Wolfpack and in part due to the anticipated large crowds of mourners and well-wishers for the family.

“In my thirty -five years in this business, this is the first time I’ve ever known a funeral to be held at the Fieldhouse,” said Mortuary Director John Weaver who, along with wife Jamie, served as funeral directors for the Tincher services. “But it’s obvious by the number of people out, why it was good that it was held here.”

On Sunday, an estimated 400 people were present at the funeral for Tincher. It was a service filled with ceremony and respect for the retired twenty-year veteran Williamson City Police Officer and longtime Williamson High and Williamson Middle Assistant Coach.

The members of the Williamson Police Department marched in unison wearing full dress uniforms. Led by Chief of Police Roby Pope, the officers were seated together as a group. They later served as pallbearers for Tincher.

Immediately following these officers, the Williamson High School Football Team marched in together wearing their maroon game jerseys, led by Coach Ward and the other members of the Williamson Football Coaching Staff. They served as honorary pallbearers.

Finally, both active and retired members of the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department, West Virginia State Police, West Virginia Ranger Service and the Norfolk-Southern Railway Police Division marched in uniform and were seated behind the team.

Reverend Charles Stanford West, president of the Mingo County BOE, opened the services and read the eulogy. West’s remarks echoed the sentiment of nearly every attendee over the two day period.

“With David Tincher, you got the same man all the time. If he told you something, you knew he meant it,” said West. “He loved the Lord and showed that to the young men he coached every day.”

“David served in so many ways. As an officer, a coach, a father, a husband, a friend,” said Reverend Johnny Branch, WHS Principal, who spoke during the services. “But I didn’t know, as I’m sure many of you may not have, until just a few moments ago that he was also a preacher of the gospel. He truly was remarkable in so many ways.”

The Reverend Jay West, Tincher’s Pastor, was the main speaker during the funeral, speaking directly to the members of the Williamson High Football team during his sermon.

“Young men, remember everything Coach taught you, both in word and deed. Put it in your hearts,” said Pastor West. “When in the future, you are called upon to make trying decisions that you’re unsure of, just ask yourself ‘What would Coach Tincher tell me to do?’ Let his life be an example for you.”

At the conclusion of the service, each member of law enforcement filed by Tincher’s Wolfpack-inspired maroon casket, pausing individually to salute their fallen comrade. Many were with Tincher at the Mingo County Airport Shooting Range Wednesday evening when he was stricken with the heart attack that claimed him.

They were followed out by the WHS coaching staff and players and by the other law enforcement officers assembled who each offered the same salute to their fallen friend.

A funeral procession of over sixty vehicles was led to the Reed-Lockard Cemetery at Turkey Creek, Ky. by a dozen police cars.

There, at the graveside, committal services were conducted using a sampling of dirt from Tincher’s beloved Lefty Hamilton Football Field.

“We don’t do well at times like these,” said Branch. ”But David would have been moved by this show of love and respect.”

“David Tincher would tell us to ‘Straighten up and get over this’.” said Rev. Charles West. “He’d tell us to ‘take care of these students and to take care of one another’.”