ALTAMONT — Harold E. England, 83, longtime educator and coach of Altamont, died at 7:15 a.m. Wednesday, April 6, 2011, at Labette Health in Parsons.

He was born Sept. 9, 1927, in Halstead to Jesse Erie and Edna Lillian (Arnold) England. He grew up and attended schools in Halstead, where he was a 1945 graduate of Halstead High School.

During World War II, he served in the United States Navy and, upon his honorable discharge, he attended the University of Kansas, where he played basketball from 1946 to 1950 while majoring in physical education and secondary education. He later earned a master’s degree from Emporia State University. Through the years, he taught social studies and coached high school athletics in various locations.

In earlier years, he attended the United Methodist Church in Altamont and was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon and K Club at KU. Following retirement, he especially enjoyed playing golf, bridge and pitch. In December 2010, Harold was inducted into the Halstead Athletic Hall of Fame and was also an inductee of the Kansas State High School Activities Association Hall of Fame.

He married Jane Cunningham on Oct. 7, 1951, in Lawrence. She survives of the home.

Other survivors include three sons, Brent England and his wife, Laurel, of Owasso, Okla., Kerry England of Altamont and Eric England and his wife, Debbie, of Lamar, Mo.; two daughters, Brenda Patton and her husband, David, of Bellevue, Neb., and Cheryl England of Overland Park; six grandchildren, Darcy McDonald, Adam Patton, Kallie Rodriguez, Stephanie Patton, Nyssa Dunfee and Moriah England; and a great-grandson, Lincoln McDonald.

He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.

Following cremation, a private family service will be Saturday.

Memorials are suggested to Halstead High School and may be made payable to USD 440 Harold England Memorial Fund. These may be left at or mailed to Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, P.O. Box 325, Altamont, KS 67330.

Online condolences may be left at www.forbeshoffman.com.