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Submitted: 12/16/12 • Approved: 11/27/20 • Last Updated: 11/30/20 • R795693-G0-S3
CORPORAL US Army
Battery B 197 Armored Field Artillery Battalion
Korea
July 22, 1933 - January 5, 2001
National Defense Service Medal
Born Lunenburg, Izard County, Arkansas
Died Mount Pleasant, Izard County, Arkansas
Son of Thomas Verlin Coleman & Ravie C. Stroud Coleman
Married Lauretta Cathern Fitzsimmons, May 13, 1953, Izard County, Arkansas
White River Current, Calico Rock, Arkansas, January 11, 2001:
Billy Gene Coleman of Mount Pleasant, son of the late Verlin and Ravie Stroud Coleman was born July 22, 1933 in Lunenburg. He died January 5, 2001 at his home near Mount Pleasant. He was 67.
Mr. Coleman achieved the rank of corporal in the United States Army, having served in the Korean conflict. He served two years active duty with Battery B, 197th AFA Battalion. He was honorably discharged May 20k 1955 and was released to the Army Reserve where he completed six years of service. He was awarded the National Defense Service Medal.
He retired from the Love Hollow division of Rangaire Corporation in April 1981, where he had been a heavy equipment operator. He was a member of New Home Free Will Baptist Church in the Gid community.
Survivors include his wife, Lauretta Fitzsimmons Coleman of the home; one daughter and son-in-law, Donnajean and Charles Wolfe of Sage; one son, Gary Gene Coleman of Bella Vista; three sisters, Zela Shrable of Independence, Missouri; Nadine Frisby of Raytown, Missouri; and Janet Caraway of Oak Grove, Missouri; three brothers, Paul Coleman of Blue Springs, Missouri; Gerald Coleman of Melbourne and Gus Coleman of Mount Pleasant; four grandchildren, Amber Wolfe Henderson and husband Shane of Bono; April Wolfe, Alauna Wolfe and Charles Dee Wolfe, Jr., all of Sage and one great-grandson, Caeden Wolfe of Sage. He was preceded in death by his parents and an infant sister, Dela Fay Coleman.
Funeral services were held January 8, 2001 in the Roman and Billy Howard Memorial Chapel in Melbourne with Brother Curtis Billings and J. W. Roach officiating. Pallbearers were Howard Lalmb, Don Tate, Jerry Sumner, Thomas Weatherford, Doyne Langston and Leon Brooks. Honorary pallbearers were Claude McCullough, Borden Lovelady and Eldred Burgess.
Interment was in Reeves Cemetery in Gid under the direction of Eddie's Family Funeral Home of Melbourne.
(see family memorial)
(Photo courtesy of Vera Reeves)
Contributed on 12/16/12 by maxparnell
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Record #: 795693