Retired Master Sgt. Henry Earl Coleman

Published 8:13 am Friday, December 20, 2024

Retired Master Sgt. Henry Earl Coleman, a World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War veteran, age 95, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home in Blairsville, Ga on Wednesday, December 18, 2024 following an extended illness.

Henry was born on March 14, 1929, in Schley County Ga to the late Henry Lehman and the late Anna Laura Mask Coleman. A Thursday’s child with far to go, he joined the Army to proudly serve his country and shortly after, he married his childhood sweetheart, Mary Ethel Hale on June 28, 1949. They traveled to Virginia, California, Syria, and Germany with a baby born in each place, according to an entry from Ethel’s journal.

He and Ethel returned home to Plains, Ga. and settled in the small town to raise their family. Following the Methodist faith, he served his church in many roles, including singing in the choir and teaching Sunday School. Always service minded, he was a member of the Plains Lions Club for many years. They lived happily ever after until the death of Ethel in 2012.

He married Jane Stelly in 2015, and they enjoyed each other’s company and

took care of each other until her death in 2022.

As a Georgia Master Gardener, he loved working in the yard and tending to his many plants and flowers. He was an avid reader and spent many hours studying his Bible, visiting with his friends and spending time with his family.

Henry was a kind, down-to-earth fellow with a playful sense of humor, who enjoyed telling stories about the days of his children growing up, pranks he played on Ethel and of his many adventures from his Army days.

Henry is survived by his half-brother, Jim Melton of Dayton, Cincinnati, Ohio; his four children, Jo Anne Allen and Tom of Blairsville, Ga, Chris Coleman and Kat of Castle Hayne, NC, Russell Coleman and Marie of Plains, Ga and Gordon Coleman of Plains, Ga. He is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 6 great great grandchildren, all of whom will miss him.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, December 21, 2024 at the Plains Methodist Church 301 W Church Street. Rev. Josh Warner and Rev. R.T. Beverly will officiate the service. Visitation will be held at the church Saturday from 12:00 p.m. until service time at 2:00. Interment will follow in Lebanon Cemetery in Plains. The following Gentleman will serve as active Pallbearers: Rusty Coleman, James Coleman, Richard Coleman, Josh Ybarra, Phillip Fountain and Jackson Fulks.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the American Diabetes Association. To sign the online guest book and share your condolences with the family please visit aldridgefuneralservices.com. Aldridge Funeral & Cremation Services is in charge of these arrangements.