Joe Paul Coffman

     Joe Paul Coffman was born November 10, 1935 in Birch River, WVA. He was the third child of Gaylord and Ruby Coffman. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his only brother, Johnnie L. Coffman, twin to his sister, Betty Evans.
     Left to cherish their father are his four children: Josette Coffman, Highlandville, MO; Amy Kimura, Pensacola, FL; and twins Paul Coffman, Issaquah, WA and Lara Gabriel, Tacoma, WA. He was blessed with four grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Betty Evans of Pensacola, Florida and his former wife and mother of his children, Anna Krista Greeson.
     LTC Coffman graduated third in his 1955 high school class and continued his education at Marshall College Graduating in 1959. While at Marshall College, he attended the Reserve Officers Training Course. During Commencement Exercises in May 1959 he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He also received a Master’s Degree from Wake Forest University in North Carolina during the course of his military career in 1972.
     Throughout his 23 years of honorable military service to his country, Joe Paul attended the following training courses at Ft. Benning, GA - Basic Infantry Officers Course, Ranger and Paratrooper Course and Infantry Officers Advanced Training. He continued to enhance his military training through Special Forces Officer School in Ft. Bragg, NC, Mountain Climbing/Mountain Warfare training in Greely Alaska and the Command and General Staff College in Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.
     Along with specialized training his dedication to military service was also recognized through numerous distinguished high honors awarded to him throughout his career. Such honors included The Army Expeditionary Medal for Service inside the Berlin Wall during the “Cold War” with Russia, Army Commendation Ribbon with oak leaf cluster, Joint Service Commendation medal, Vietnam Service Ribbon, Meritorious Service Ribbon, South Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry for Participation in the Vietnamese Operation “Lamson 719”, US Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star with four oak leaf clusters with”V” device and the Distinguish Flying Cross. Additionally he received these decorative badges: Combat Infantry, MASTER Parachute Wings, South Vietnamese and Thailand Parachute Wings.
     LTC Coffman served three tours in Vietnam with the 5th Special Forces Group/MACSOG, Military Assistance Command - Studies and Observation Group. Joe Paul wore the Green Beret with esteemed pride.
     Joe Paul was hired as a Stocks/Bond broker with Smith Barney/Harris Upham in Sarasota, Florida. He spent two months in NYC undertaking a course in Stock Exchange Finances and complimented that course in 1988 with an additional six months of intensive self-study, passing the six hour “Series-7 Exam” at Emory University in Atlanta. Joe Paul spent two years with Smith Barney but decided that office work did not suit him.
     More along the lines of his passion to give directives and manage, he moved to Auburn, Alabama and was the architect of Coffman Construction, building highly admired and desired custom homes for twenty years. Once again, he retired on his 70th birthday in November of 2006.
     Joe Paul was Catholic by faith, baptized in St.Mary’s Church, Opelika, Alabama in 1988. Moreover, he was 32nd Degree Mason raised to the 3rd Degree in the Strange Creek Lodge of Strange Creek, West Virginia, 14th Degree in Charleston Masonic Temple and the 32nd Degree in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina Masonic Temple.
     Joe Paul was an avid outdoorsman and fisherman, spending time in the woods hunting deer and turkey and on the lakes in his bass boat. He was a demanding father who taught pride and self-sufficiency to his children and was always generous with his sage guidance. One of his favorite sayings when his children were in dire straights was “we all have to kill our own snakes”.
     Joe Paul Coffman spent his remaining years living contently in Summersville as the saying goes: “Country roads, take me home to the place I belong, West Virginia”. He will be given priestly rights and his body cremated. His ashes and urn will be placed at the Cox Memorial Cemetery in Birch River, West Virginia. Joe Paul began his life’s journey in Birch River and will return having completed his “tour of duty” with many accolades and adventures.
     In lieu of formal services, his request is for all his friends, acquaintances and relatives to rejoice with him the wonderful and exceptional 88 years on God’s Great Earth.  White-Anderson Funeral Home and Cremation Service is in charge of the arrangements.  Condolences may be made to the family at our website www.whitefuneralhomewv.com

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