To his final earthly moment, Kevin C. Gatons of Greensburg was an unyielding runner and a tremendous coach.

Mr. Gatons, 46, cross-country and track assistant coach at Greensburg Salem High School for 12 years, died Friday in Hershey as he was negotiating the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championship cross-country course during a warm-up session with one of the school's student athletes.

Mr. Gatons, an accomplished runner who routinely competed in marathons, and scholastic runner Samantha Bower were about one mile into a workout when Mr. Gatons fell to the ground.

His wife, Cheryl Gatons, said her husband died of a heart attack.

Mrs. Gatons said she found solace in the knowledge that her husband of eight years was doing two of the three favorite things in his life -- running and coaching. Spending time with his three small children -- Sydney, 6, Quintin, 3, and Lillian, 1 -- was Mr. Gatons' unequaled favorite activity.

"There is a peace in everything and how it happened because he was truly doing what he loved as he left us," Mrs. Gatons said. "Kevin loved it, he loved running and he was there for the kids who he was a coach to whenever they needed him. He would always tell them, 'Don't give up, give it everything you have and push through everything.' He was coaching and running until his final moment."

It was at the 1994 Columbus, Ohio, marathon that Kevin met Cheryl, who is also an accomplished distance runner. The two ran the Boston Marathon together this past spring.

"My husband was such an amazing man," Mrs. Gatons said. "Right before he fell, he ran past [Baldwin High School cross-country coach] Rich Wright and tapped him on the shoulder and told him and his team, 'Good luck.' Rich said that Kevin had the biggest smile on his face and that is how I am going to remember him and how everyone should remember him -- running with a big smile.

"I'll remember that smile when I look at my three children and when they get older, they'll be able to understand exactly what a great man their father was and how many lives that he touched through coaching and running."

Mr. Gatons, a 1978 Hempfield Area High School graduate, was a fifth-grade teacher at Hutchinson Elementary School in Southwest Greensburg. He was working toward his principal's certification at St. Vincent College, from which he graduated in 1982.

In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Gatons is survived by his parents, Terrence and Patricia Gatons of Greensburg; a brother, Michael Gatons of Greensburg; and two sisters, Susan Rhome of Greensburg and Elizabeth Clement of the North Hills.

A celebration of Mr. Gatons' life will be held today from 3 to 8 p.m. at Clement L. Pantalone Funeral Home, 409 W. Pittsburgh St., Greensburg. A Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. tomorrow at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Greensburg, with interment to follow at St. Paul Lutheran Cemetery in Mount Pleasant Township.