FLORENCE M. COLDREN

FLORENCE M. COLDREN, 100, formerly of Jay County, passed away on Thursday, June 18, 2015, at The Hearth at Sycamore Village, in Fort Wayne. She was a member of the Trinity Lutheran Church, in Ft. Recovery, Ohio. She and her husband farmed in Noble Township, Jay County for 52 years. Florence was a 1932 graduate of Madison School. She received her Bachelors degree from Ball State Teachers College. Her first teaching job was at the Davis one room school house in Noble Township, Jay County. During her 23 years as a teacher in Jay Schools, she taught at Madison, Noble, Bryant, Lincoln, and Judge Haynes Schools. Florence was the last surviving family member of the original three families that founded the Jay Randolph Developmental Services. She was a member of the Noble Township Busy Bees Home Economics Club and the Jay County Retired Teachers Association. She was also active as a Jay County 4-H leader for 20 years. Born Sept. 25, 1914, in Jay County, she was the daughter of F. Jacob and Mabel (Bartling) Heidegger. She was married in 1944 to Charles Coldren; he passed away in 1995. Survivors include her two daughters, Sharon Rhodehamel-Lewis and Rebecca Coldren, both of Fort Wayne; two sisters, Rachel Stultz of Portland and Miriam (Charles) Jones of Anderson; one grandson, Rex (Jenni) Rhodehamel of Fort Wayne; and three great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a daughter, Marilyn Coldren; and two brothers, Walter and David Heidegger. Funeral service is 2 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Lutheran Church, in Ft. Recovery, Ohio. Pastor Robin Owen and Pastor Sharon Stonerock officiating. Visitation is from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday at Williamson & Spencer Funeral Home, Portland. Burial will follow service in Spring Hill Cemetery, Ft. Recovery. Online condolences may be directed to www.williamsonspencer.com