Norma Dowden Coleman

Norma Dowden Coleman, 76, of Terre Haute, passed away at 7:30 a.m. Monday Nov. 12, 2007 after a long battle with ovarian cancer with her family at her side. Her treatments were tough – her spirit tougher and her courage inspiring. She was born in Switz City on Dec. 20, 1930 to William H. Dowden and Edna Jackson Dowden.As a young girl she was a great equestrian and enjoyed playing the tuba. On Sept. 14, 1952, she married the love of her life, Kenneth R. Coleman of Linton, who preceded her in death on April 15, 2003. Norma enjoyed a 30-year career as senior clerk of the checkout department at the Vigo County Public Library. She was the ultimate Indiana sports fan, especially I.U. Basketball and the Indianapolis Colts.On Feb. 22, 2007, the Coleman Cancer Center at Providence Medical Group in Terre Haute was established in honor of Norma Coleman and the late Kenneth Coleman under the direction of Dr. Sang Huh. The Coleman Cancer Center is designed to bring cutting edge treatments from major national cancer institutions to the people of Terre Haute and surrounding areas.She is survived by her two daughters, Lori Coleman Engle and her husband Ernie of Terre Haute and Lisa Coleman Paulsen and her husband Edwin of Manhattan Beach, Calif.; two sisters, Alberta Miller and Judy Shake and her husband, John of Linton; her brother, Lowell Dowden of Sullivan; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Virginia Kincaid and Charles Kincaid of Elgin, Ill.; four grandchildren, Anthony and Sloane Engle of Terre Haute and Trent and Chelsea Paulsen of Manhattan Beach; numerous nieces and nephews; and her neighbors who were like family, Phyllis Mills and the late Lloyd Mills, Margaret and Eurvin Jones and countless friends.Funeral services will be held 6 p.m. Saturday, at Roselawn Funeral Home, 7500 North Clinton Street, Terre Haute. Visitation is scheduled from 3 to 6 p.m. with services to begin at 6 p.m., with Pastor Brett C. Wilson officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Norma’s memory to the Coleman Cancer Center Foundation c/o Dr. Sang Huh, Providence Medical Group, 2723 South 7th Street, Suite L, Terre Haute, IN 47802, or Cross Lane Community Church, 2204 Lafayette Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47805.