Dr. Sherman Tipton Coleman Sr.

Dr. Sherman Tipton Coleman, Sr., 85, a loving husband, father, and grandfather, passed away December 10, 2005. He was born in Abilene, Texas on June 1, 1920, the oldest child of Hugh Sterling Coleman and Oma Mae Hatfield. He was an honor graduate of Abilene High School, and attended Pre-Med at the University of Texas. After serving four years as a Naval Aviator during World War II, he attended Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. On November 6, 1943, he married Jacqueline Kathleen Arnim at The Church of the Good Shepherd, where she was a life-long member. He received the coveted Ho Din Award by the Southwestern Medical Foundation as the outstanding graduate of his class. He served his internship at the University of Michigan Hospital, and post-graduate surgical training at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis. He was awarded an American Cancer Society Scholarship as Senior Resident in Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. A highly successful General and Vascular Surgeon, he began practicing in Corpus Christi in 1956. He has served in many capacities in the medical field, including Chief of Surgery and Chief of Staff of Doctors Hospital and the Driscoll Foundation Children's Hospital; President of Corpus Christi Surgical Society; Diplomat of the American Board of Surgery; Fellow of the American College of Surgeons; District Director of the American Cancer Society; Director of the Tumor Clinic, Memorial Medical Center; and Chief of Staff of Spohn Hospital in Corpus Christi. He began his art career in 1974 as a sculptor, and was commissioned in 1976 to create a statue for The Church of the Good Shepherd. The result of his artistic abilities are most notably "Rejoice With Me," The Church of the Good Shepherd; "Karankawa Indian, " Nueces County Court House; "The Lord is My Shepherd," St. James Episcopal School; "Christ the Healer," Christus Spohn Hospital Shoreline; "Captain Alonzo de Pineda," de Pineda Park; "Captain Falcon," Shoreline Blvd; "Legend of the Sand Dollar," Museum of Science; a portrait bust of Clara Driscoll, founder of Driscoll Children's Hospital; and "Elephant Triumphant," commissioned by Governor Bill Clements.He was preceded in death by his loving wife by 22 hours, Jacqueline Kathleen Arnim Coleman. He is also preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Yvonne Kleinsorge.Survivors include his sister, Jean Stedman; his son, Sherman Tipton (Jo Lynn) Coleman; daughters, Kathleen Arnim (David) Edwards, Teresa Claire (Steven) Coleman-Gasiewicz, and Leslie Arnim Coleman (Michael) Ridulfo; ten grandchildren: Jacqueline Elizabeth Ballard, Kendall Arnim Young, Clinton Michael Wilson, Hunter Tipton Coleman, Sherman Dodge Coleman, Sadie Bright Coleman, Alisa Kathleen Coleman, Morgan Arnim Ridulfo, Alexandra Westfall Ridulfo, and Michael Blaise Ridulfo; six great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews; and Julian Hernandez, loyal foreman, trusted friend, and compadre.The family would like to especially thank care-givers Gina Zapata, Christina Zapata, and Melissa Flores for their selfless devotion, love and support to Sherman and his family. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the nurses, counselors and staff of Christus Spohn Hospice.A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 16, 2005 at The Church of the Good Shepherd.In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Christus Spohn Hospice, 1660 S. Staples, Corpus Christi, TX 78404.