Edward Franklin Coleman

Edward Franklin Coleman, of Lynchburg, died on August 19, 2011.  He was born on March 12, 1921 in Richmond, Virginia, a son of the late Minnie Storey and William Daniel Coleman.  At the untimely death of his mother, he was brought to Lynchburg as an infant and lovingly reared by a cousin, Mary Winston Ivey.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret Doering Coleman.  Also surviving are his three children: Edward Franklin Coleman, Jr. and his wife Angela of Amherst County,  Jane C. Rechenbach and her husband Douglas of Richmond, and Thomas Doering Coleman of Forest; eight grandchildren: Margaret C. Laird, Edward F. Coleman III, Charles P. Coleman, Virginia C. Blanks, Elizabeth Rechenbach, Sara Rechenbach, Keri G. Coleman, R. Chase Coleman; and four great grandchildren.

Ed was a lifelong member of Court Street United Methodist Church and was interested in all phases of its work.  He was a Mason and a 50-year member of Marshall Lodge #39.  He was a volunteer at Centra Health.

He served his country in World War II as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Air Force flying the B-29 Super Fortress.

He was the former owner of The Coleman Company, Inc., a land development and home building company.  Some of the projects were Blumont Estates, Hunter\"™s Creek, and Clay\"™s Crossing.  He enjoyed these challenges.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, August 22, 2011 in the Chapel of Tharp Funeral Home, Lynchburg, with the Rev. C. Douglas Pillow officiating.  The family will receive friends from 2:00 \"" 4:00 p.m. today, Sunday, August 21st at Tharp Funeral Home.  A private interment will be held at Spring Hill Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Court Street United Methodist Church, 621 Court Street, Lynchburg, VA 24504.

Tharp Funeral Home & Crematory, Lynchburg, is assisting the family, 434-237-9424.