James Edward Coleman

COLEMAN, James Edward James Edward Coleman, of Essex passed away on Tuesday, (January 2, 2007) at the age of 102 at the Health Care Facility of Essex Meadows. He was born on April 15, 1904 in Scranton, PA the third son of James Joseph Coleman and Emma D. Filer. He was predeceased by his brothers, Eugene and George; as well as his wife of 75 years, Ruth Evelyn McEwen. He leaves a daughter, Ruth Ann C. Davis of Southington; a son, James F. Coleman of Cape Neddick, ME; their spouses, Joel N. Davis and Elizabeth Fawcett Coleman; four grandchildren, Keith F. Davis, Rebecca Davis Jones, Catherine Coleman Knapp and James Filer Coleman; and two great grandchildren, Gregory Kanan and Lola Coleman. Prior to World War II, Jim served as Company Commander of a United States Marine Corps Reserve Unit in the Chicago, IL area. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor he served in the U.S. Army as Chief of Production Service Branch of the U.S. Army's Pittsburgh Ordinance District. His business career included 11 years as an industrial engineer with the Northern Indiana Public Service Company of Hammond, IN. In 1937 he went to work for the Columbia Gas System, first as an industrial engineer for the Pittsburgh Group of six companies providing natural gas in five different states. With this group of companies he had many different assignments in various segments of the operations, each with growing responsibilities. At his retirement in 1967 he was the President and Director of the six affiliated companies operating in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland. He was a Natural Gas spokesman on the platform and in print. In 1959 Jim and his wife purchased a summer home on Lake Winnipesaukee in the Town of Moultonborough, NH. Following retirement in 1967 he and Ruth moved to Peterborough, NH where they built a home of their own design. During their 15 years in Peterborough he was active in the Union Congregational Church, Monadnock Chapter AARP and a member of the Monadnock Camera Club. He was an Incorporator of the Monadnock Community Hospital, and served for several years on the Investment Advisory Committee. He was a Director of the Peterborough Historical Society, and helped to organize their collection of old photographs. Photography had been a continuing hobby for many years and he entertained many different groups with his slide shows and lectures. In 1982 Jim and Ruth moved to Spring Lake Village, an adult condominium community in Southington and then to Essex Meadows Retirement Community in 1989. Jim had been a member of the Old Lyme Congregational Church since 1991. A memorial service will be held in the small first floor conference room at Essex Meadows on Saturday, January 6 at 11 a.m. followed by a family graveside service at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Southington. His family wishes to thank the staff of the Essex Meadows Health Care for their professional and loving care over the last three and a half years. Funeral arrangements by Robinson, Wright and Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.