John Warren Colmery

Nov. 7, 1927 - May 21, 2011

John Warren Colmery, age 83, died on Saturday, May 21, 2011, at home with his family.

He was born on Monday, Nov. 7, 1927, in Worthington, Ohio, to Warren Wesley Colmery and Catheryn Jenkins Colmery. He married Dorothy Maxine Stapleton on Feb. 19, 1949, having served his country in the United States Army and receiving an honorable discharge in 1948. While attending The Ohio State University, John was a YMCA swimming instructor which culminated in a State Swimming Championship. He graduated from Ohio State with a degree in Education, followed by a Master's Degree from Bowling Green State University in Ohio. His first teaching position was in Ohio at Rossford High School where he taught Social Studies and coached both basketball and football, returning to Columbus to teach at Indianola Junior High School for one year.

In 1955, he accepted a teaching position and basketball coaching job at Columbus South High School, where he excelled, his team winning the Ohio High School State Basketball Championship with great pride in 1965. Following his success as a coach, John accepted a position as Assistant Director of Intramurals at OSU from 1965-1969. He and his family relocated to Panama City, Fla., where he was Athletic Director of Gulf Coast Community College, eventually serving in the Learning Resource Center before retirement in 1993. John's motto was: Faith, Family, and Service, which he conveyed to his children, his students, and players through his own actions.

John was a member of First Presbyterian Church for 42 years, serving first as a Deacon and two separate terms as an Elder. He was an active Elder and member of the Fellowship Sunday School class until his death. He was a member of the Panama City Beach Rotary Club, where he served as President.

John is survived by his wife of 62 years, D. Maxine Colmery, and four daughters, Penni Tomlinson of Brandon, Fla., Vicki Thompson (Raymond) of Drexel Hill, Pa., Pamela Hochadel (Michael) of London, Ohio, and Valerie Rawlings (Douglas) of Sellersburg, Ind. Other survivors include nine grandchildren, Dr. L. Michelle Seoane (Dr. Leo) of New Orleans, La., Tonya Coglianese (USMC Col John) of Valrico, Fla., Justin Thompson (Carrie) of West Palm Beach, Fla., Jaime Thompson of Philadelphia, Pa., USAF Capt Daniel Wassmuth (Mandy) of Las Vegas, Nev., USAF Capt David Wassmuth (Kim) of Fairborn, Ohio, Peyton Porter (fiancé' Stuart Toomey) of Jacksonville, Fla., Jessee Porter of Atlanta, Ga., and Phillips Porter of Jacksonville, Fla. He is also survived by seven great-grandchildren, John, Sarah, Hayden, and Alessandra Coglianese, Leonardo and Eduardo Seoane, and Campbell Thompson. His sister, Dorothy Hartigan, lives in the Columbus, Ohio, area, along with several nieces and nephews.

The service will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, May 25, at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. Richard Watson and the Rev. David Smith officiating. Friends are welcome for visitation at the church at 9:30 a.m. prior to the service. A graveside service will follow at Greenwood Cemetery. Active pallbearers are: Raymond Thompson, Michael Hochadel, Douglas Rawlings, Justin Thompson, Daniel Wassmuth, Phillips Porter, John Coglianese, and Leo Seoane. Honorary pallbearers are the Session of the First Presbyterian Church and the Fellowship Sunday School class.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to First Presbyterian Church at 100 E. Seventh St., Panama City, FL 32401, or Covenant Hospice at 107 W. 19th St., Panama City, FL 32405, in memory of John Colmery. Special thanks go to Dr. William Flynn, Dr. William Dent, Dr. Greg England, Dr. Joel Trantham, Dr. Ashok Wadhera, Dr. E Jacob and Dr. Merle Stringer, as well as the nursing staff of Bay Medical Center and Covenant Hospice.

Wilson Funeral Home
Family Owned Since 1911
214 Airport Road
Panama City, Fla.
850-785-5272