Richard Randolph “RR” Coleman was born on July 8, 1931 in El Monte, CA to Elsie & Silas Coleman. He passed away peacefully on June 28, 2017 in Dallas, TX from complications of dementia.
Richard retired from the Dallas Fire Department on July 9, 1981 after 28 years of service having attained the rank of Captain. His last assignment was at Station No 17.
He was a co-founder of Restoration Specialists, Inc. and Restoration Associates where he continued to work following his retirement from the fire department.. He was an entrepreneur, builder, mechanic, rancher, land steward, sailor, yachtsman, sharpshooter, bass master, draftsman, art critic, photographer, philosopher, world traveler, story teller, mentor and life saver.
His many professional experiences included work with Airkem Service Co. of North Texas, Southwestern Bell, Texas Air National Guard,-136th Installations Squadron and 181st Fighter Bomber Squadron, Urbandale Automotive;, Titche Goettinger Co., Liberty Fence Co.,White Rock Lake Bath House and the Urbandale Grocery.
Throughout his lifetime, Richard was involved in his community and had numerous civic, religious and fraternal affiliations. Some of these were: Park Cities Baptist Church, Dallas Retired Firefighters RV and Foretravel Motorcade Clubs, Texas Baptist Men Ministries disaster relief team, Briar Creek Home Owners Association, Corinthian Sailing Club, Corinthian Fleet No. One, Association of Specialists in Fire Restoration, First Baptist Church Kaufman, Circle C Ranch & Beefmaster Breeders United, First Baptist Academy booster club, The Quadrant Club and the James Ladd Burgess Masonic Lodge.
Richard grew up in the Urbandale neighborhood of East Dallas. As a teenager, he was baptized at the First Baptist Church of Urbandale. He graduated from Crozier Technical High in Dallas where he served in the U.S. Army ROTC.
In 1954 Richard married the love of his life, Carolyn Newton. They soon began to raise their family and were blessed with three children. She predeceased him on September 12, 2014 after 60 years of marriage. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Jack Coleman; sister, Jeannie Coleman-Golden; five dogs and two cats.
Surviving Richard are his three children, Gary Coleman (JoAnn Craft), James Coleman (Sherrill Jones), and Sharolyn Herndon (Stan); grandchildren, Chris Coleman (Lily), and Cory Coleman; great grandchildren, Emily & Jack Coleman.
Richard worked incredibly hard at labor and leisure with an unrelenting passion and fervor for life. Adventurous and benevolent. While Carolyn kept him dapper, he never let her influence interfere with his true sense of fashion: polyester clip-on ties and mixed patterns were Richard’s hallmarks. Richard believed that hard work, courage and adventure were the keys to a long life, and he lived a long, fine life indeed. And no blade of grass ever grew around Richard Coleman’s feet nor those of his children.
Thank you to the many caregivers at White Rock Trail Memory Care and Amity Hospice. Thank you to the Dallas Fire Department Honor Guard, the James Ladd Burgess Masonic Temple and the Patriot Guard for your tributes. Paul Bearers: Chris Coleman, Cory Coleman, Joe Newton, Bryan Corley, Bo Corley, and Josh Corley.
Memorials may be sent to support first responders, curing dementia, diabetes, or heart disease.
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