Carl Herndon Coghill Jr., 83, of 130 Gleneagles Road, Campobello, died Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.
He was born Feb. 28, 1928 in Henderson, N.C., son of Carl H. Coghill and Irma Gray Floyd Coghill.
He served in the U.S. Army after graduating from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1949.
Mr. Coghill was a business analyst with Milliken & Company in Spartanburg from 1960 until retiring in 2009 at age 81. When he earned its 2002 Director’s Super Nova Award, the director of industrial engineering wrote:
“He is the company’s most able individual in cutting through the detail to design an efficient solution to a cost/engineering/system/financial problem. Carl’s opinion and thoughts are respected company-wide, from the newest industrial engineer trainee to the company chairman.
“To find a problem that he has not seen before is unusual; to find a problem he does not know how to address is yet to happen. He is truly a valued treasure and a role model for the ages.”
Mr. Coghill previously worked in textiles industrial engineering in Virginia and Medellin, Colombia.
He was for many years a member of the St. Paul United Methodist Church in Spartanburg, serving as treasurer.
He was a Gold Life Master in bridge. He and his first wife, the late Ann Talley Coghill, were a long-time presence in American Contract Bridge League games in Spartanburg. After retiring, Mr. Coghill played regularly at Tryon as well.
He married Susi Austin Coghill in Columbia and moved to Links O’Tryon in Campobello. Mr. Coghill took up golf at age 70 and was an active member in the Links O’Tryon Golf Club.
He was an excellent cook, specializing in perfectly crispy bacon and fluffy scrambled eggs for large family gatherings.
After moving his membership to Landrum United Methodist Church, Mr. Coghill cooked a much-anticipated monthly breakfast for the men’s club.
At one time, Mr. Coghill kept a large backyard garden, and he always grew tomatoes and flowers.
He was an avid fan of University of North Carolina Tar Heels basketball and all ACC sports.
He was a lifelong reader who loved to discuss current events and politics. He was a staunch conservative.
Carl loved people and loved to laugh. He was dearly beloved by his family and was affectionately called Great Great.
Surviving are his wife, Susi Austin Coghill of the home; a daughter, Sybil C. Lauderdale, and her husband, David Lauderdale, of Hilton Head Island, S.C.; two sons, Dr. Carl H. “Tim” Coghill III and his wife, Karen Smith Coghill, of Mountain Brook, Ala., and David F. Coghill and his wife, Nan Conner Coghill, of Mission, Texas; two stepsons, Travis Long and his wife, Terri Lee Long, of Greer, S.C., and Jim Long and his wife Therry D. Long of Campobello; seven grandchildren, Burke Lauderdale of New York City, Ann Talley Lauderdale of Hilton Head, Kimberly Coghill Johnson and her husband, Alex Johnson, of Lexington, Ky., Matthew Coghill of Atlanta,  Ga., Griffin Coghill of Mountain Brook, Ala., Conner Coghill of Mission, Texas, and Christopher Coghill of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a step-grandson, Parker Long of Greer, S.C., and a great-grandson, Alex “AJ” Johnson Jr.
He was predeceased by his wife, Ann Talley Coghill, and sister, Barbara C. Goodrich of Henderson, N.C.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9 at Landrum United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Jane Jenkins officiating.
Private burial will be in the Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Spartanburg.
The family will be at the home.
Memorials may be made to Landrum United Methodist Church, 227 N. Howard Ave., Landrum, S.C. 29356 or Tryon Youth Center, 425 N. Trade St., Tryon, N.C. 28782.
Wood Mortuary of Greer is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be made at www.thewoodmortuary.com.