- Date Of Birth: May 8, 1949
- Date Of Death: May 1, 2008
- State: Indiana
Kenneth Gene Coleman Sr., 58, of Hubbard Avenue, died at 3:35 p.m. Thursday (May 1, 2008) in Elkhart General Hospital after a sudden illness.
He was born May 8, 1949, in Sikeston, Mo., to Ephram and Bernice (Coleman) Benman.
His parents survive in Elkhart along with three daughters, Shanida (Johnny) Lee and Tisha A. Pulluaim, both of Mishawaka, and Samantha Coleman of Troy, Ohio; one son, Kenneth G. Coleman Jr. of Troy; five grandchildren; one sister, Linda Faye Coleman of Richmond, Va.; a brother/uncle, John Nave of Elkhart; and two foster sisters, Lela Washington and Nickie Harris, both of Elkhart.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jessie and Hattie Coleman. Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Billings Funeral Home, 812 Baldwin St., Elkhart. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Pilgrim Rest Missionary Baptist Church, 802 W. Garfield Ave., where friends may call a half hour prior to the service. The Rev. Sam Frisen will officiate. Burial and military graveside honors by the Navy Burial Honors Detail will be in Prairie Street Cemetery.
Mr. Coleman worked at Bayer Corp. for 40 years as a machinist in the maintenance department. He was a 1968 graduate of Elkhart High School, where he played on the state championship football team. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy; he was honorably discharged.
Mr. Coleman loved to barbecue, spend time with his family and fish. He was an avid fisherman, often boasting that he’d be on TV for his fishing skills.
