- Date Of Birth: August 13, 1920
- Date Of Death: April 15, 2011
- State: Indiana
William “Bill” Harold Coleman Sr. passed away Friday, April 15, 2011, in his home surrounded by his family.
Harold was born Aug. 13, 1920, in Mishawaka, Ind.
He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Martha Jane Coleman; son Bill (Candy) Coleman of Granger, Ind.; daughter Barb Dygulski (Randy Swarm) of Union; five grandchildren, Sarah Dygulski of Chicago, Michael Coleman of Indianapolis, Amy and Lisa Coleman of Bloomington, Ind., and Rebecca Coleman of Granger; three sisters-in-law, Jeanette (Stievater) Coleman of Wheeling, W. Va., Marie Bueche of Sarasota, Fla., and Rita Schroeder of Mishawaka; brother-in-law Richard (Marilou) Schroeder of Mishawaka; and many loving nieces and nephews.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents, Eura and Ural Coleman and a brother, Robert Coleman.
Harold graduated from Mishawaka High School in 1938 where he was class president. He then earned an economics degree from DePauw University, where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. During World War II, he was a pilot instructor at Stockton Field, Calif.
On Dec. 5, 1943, he married his high school sweetheart, Martha Jane Schroeder. After the war, he worked for Pan American World Airlines in Miami, Fla., flying the North Atlantic route. In 1950, Harold took a position with Bendix Corporation in South Bend, where he retired in 1982. He was a member of Mishawaka High School Alumni Club, Bendix Salaried Retirees Club, 43-K Aviation Cadet Association and the Long Coverdale Lake Association.
Family was always important to him, and, after he retired, they moved to the lake where he enjoyed spending time with his wife, children and especially his grandchildren. Holidays were a special time where relatives traveled a distance to gather for a day of laughter and celebration. Harold could fix most anything and through his patience, love and understanding, he tried to share that knowledge with his entire family.
