Herbert L. Coon

COON Herbert L. Coon, was born January 6, 1913 to Lee and Mary (Badertscher) Coon in Bluffton Ohio. He passed away on December 17, 2009. Herb was preceded in death by an infant daughter Karen L., and his loving wife of 59 years Marjorie Luginbuhl Coon. He is survived by daughter, Cynthia Coon Lambarth of Spokane Washington; and son, Lin Herbert Coon of Grandview. Also surviving is his son-in-law, Geoffrey Praeger of Spokane; and daughter-in-law, Nancy Edgar Coon of Grandview. Surviving grandchildren include Rachel Coon of Columbus, Callie Lambarth of Portland Oregon, and Colin Lambarth and fiancee Laine Pitcher also of Portland. Also surviving are widowed sisters-in-law, Mrs. Maynard (Irene) Coon of Mansfield and Mrs. Robert (Betty) Coon of Ontario; many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews survive as well. Herb graduated from Bluffton College and earned both M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from The Ohio State University. In 1997, he was awarded the Lifetime Service Award from Bluffton University. He taught in the Ohio public school system prior to joining the OSU faculty in 1943. He was teacher and principal of the University School before joining the faculty of science education at OSU, from which he retired as an Emeritus Professor in 1978. During his professional life he served as visiting professor at Michigan State and the University of Louisville. He was a consultant to the Territorial College of Guam, and spent two years in India as a specialist in secondary education working on a United States Agency for International Development project. He was involved in many evaluations of local school systems and a survey of the Minnesota public schools. During his work with the Educational Resources Information Center, he developed many environmental education activities for elementary, middle and high school classes. Baptized in the German Reformed Church, he was also a long term member of the Indianola and Overbrook Presbyterian Churches in Columbus, serving as elder and deacon. These are the facts of Herb Coon's life and profession. But Herb's incredible spirit is what most will remember about him. We remember a father and grandfather who was always learning new things and was able to challenge our thinking; we remember a truly inquiring explorer who learned from his many travels around the world; we remember a devoted student of his adopted Northwest and the many friends he made there during the last 15 years; we remember a citizen who, up to a few weeks prior to his death, lead a current events class, "In the News", for his friends and neighbors at the Brookdale Trillium Place community. We remember a man who supported innumerable local, national and world-wide causes. We remember an educator who in his nineties continued to volunteer his time to help elementary and middle school students in the Columbus Public Schools learn to read and do mathematics. We remember a creative thinker without boundaries who worked to create an intergenerational program between Trillium residents and local high school students. We remember a competitor who loved his OSU Buckeyes, card games, pool, golf, and bowling. We remember a man who was impatient with unfairness, poverty, and inequality in our world. Most of all, we remember a man of great integrity who loved and was loved deeply and dearly by his family and friends. We all take great comfort that our lives are better for knowing him and having his life touch ours, whether as parent, grandparent, uncle, cousin or brother-in-law, friend, professor, or principal. Herb's passing marks the end of living uncles for both his Coon and the Luginbuhl families. He will be immeasurably missed. Memorial services will be held during the week of what would have been his 97th birthday on Friday, January 8, 2010 at 10 a.m. at RUTHERFORD-CORBIN FUNERAL HOME, 515 High Street, Worthington, Ohio 43085. Reverend William R. Leety will conduct the service. In lieu of flowers, Herb has asked that any memorial be dedicated to The Ohio State University Foundation, 1480 W. Lane Avenue, Columbus Ohio, 43221. Condolences may be sent to: www.rutherfordfuneralhomes.com