Charles "Chuck" Coleman

Charles Howard Coleman was born on February 25, 1926, in Bakersfield, California, and grew up in nearby Buttonwillow. He graduated in 1943 from Jordan High School in Long Beach, California. During World War II, he was stationed on the Japanese island of Okinawa as Torpedoman 3rd Class for the U.S. Navy. After his honorable discharge, he married his sweetheart Betty at the culmination of a three-month whirlwind courtship in 1947. (Read more here) Their honeymoon cabin was at Blair Mill at Pacific House near Pollock Pines, where Chuck worked for Art Blair of the local Blair Brothers lumber empire. Their firstborn was David, followed two years later by Donna. While living in southern California where his kids were born, Chuck worked at Douglas Aircraft (later known as McDonell Douglas and now part of Boeing's Commercial Airplanes division) and Pel Engineering in Compton. (see Photo Page 2)

Chuck & Betty were married in Bellflower

In the mid-1950's, he moved his family to Cedar Grove in northern California, where he worked at Michigan-Cal Lumber Company (subsequently purchased by Sierra Pacific Industries and now closed) in Camino. In 1956 he graduated from the CHP Academy in Sacramento and became a California Highway Patrolman, Badge #2060 (see CHP Photos). He helped keep the highways safer in Lancaster, South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, and Richmond; then served at the Department of Justice in Sacramento as liaison officer to the Governor's Emergency Planning Council from 1971-75 (see CHP Photos); then back on the road again in Mammoth Lakes and Bridgeport. After retiring out of the Bridgeport CHP Office, Chuck & Betty moved from Mono County back to El Dorado County, into the same house that they had built in Cedar Grove where their kids grew up and attended Camino, Pollock Pines, and Pinewood elementary schools and graduated from El Dorado High, Placerville.

Chuck's family at Anchor Bay near Gualala

Chuck was a good provider for his family and a generous man. He had a great sense of humor that was considered a "highly-developed art form" by some. He was a talented artist who paid attention to detail (see His Art). He was meticulous at pencil drawing; designing and building model-size houses, boats, and working miniature tools; and drafting residential and commercial building plans, which included the original plans for the Camino Heights subdivision, the U.S. Post Office in Camino, an A-frame church in Pollock Pines (later converted to Weird Harold's Restaurant and now a local events center), his previous home in Coleville that he and Betty built (see Photo Page 3), and Terry & Donna's home in Placerville. Despite his talents and skills, he was a simple, self-effacing man who didn't want or need extravagances. He accepted and appreciated gifts, but he didn't expect them.

Enjoying a laugh with long-time friends Ivan & Lola

He took his family to Disneyland in 1960 and made sure he held onto his daughter as they rode the Matterhorn bobsled together. He helped his family experience and appreciate the great outdoors by taking them on road trips to Banff National Park in Canada, Yellowstone, Grand Canyon and other spots of natural beauty and historical interest in the American West. Family camping trips along the Pacific Coast (Anchor Bay, Bodega Bay), in the Sierra Nevadas (Blue Lakes, Loon Lake), and in the San Bernardino Mountains (Big Bear) were a favorite. Special memories were made "roughing it" in the truck and camper with friends Ivan & Lola on the back roads of historic California and Nevada (Bodie, Masonic, Aurora, Geneva, Little Antelope Valley).

Some of the CHP gang

Chuck & Betty enjoyed entertaining family and friends, making life-long friendships wherever they lived. These include long-time neighbors Cubby & Lenna Spencer, Jake & Pearl Jones, Gary & Claire Vowles, Frank & Frances Hofstadter, Bob & Shirley Lynch, and CHP families, like "Big Ed" & Barbara Miller, Bill "Pete" & Shirley Petersen, Ken & Wanda Harrah, Don & Vivian Turney, Jack & Pat Lambres, John & Evelyn Sethre, and the Phil Herzig's. Although some of these have also fallen asleep in death, they are resting for just a short time, thanks to the resurrection hope. What a grand and happy reunion awaits them in the future!

Poncho in his rightful place, Chuck's chair

Chuck was an avid reader and book collector who could converse about a variety of subjects. More important, though, he was a good listener and asked thoughtful questions. He liked music by Ray Conniff, Jimmy Dorsey, the Tijuana Brass and other bands. He was a John Wayne fan who enjoyed most western films. He had a favorite pet, a Malamute named Poncho, who used to sleep curled up in Chuck's chair, stirring up a bit of competition at times. He was a good swimmer, taking his family to local spots on the American River along Hwy. 50 between Pollock Pines and Kyburz, like Bridal Veil picnic area (formerly Blackbird Campground), Riverton at Ice House Road turnoff, and 'swinging bridge', a creaky old rope-&-wood foot bridge that had to be traversed to get to a sandy beach, nice swimming hole, and natural water slide.

In his later years, his interest in his family developed into a keen enjoyment of researching his roots, gathering information and photos of relatives past and present, and charting the results. To that end, he and Betty added Missouri to their travel itinerary, where many of Chuck's ancestors lay in rest. Names and dates were recorded from the markers and through county records.

Chuck at great grandfather G. G.
Coleman's gravesite in Missouri

During the winter days before he slipped away, he expressed concern for his wife Betty, that we take care of her. And he was overheard telling her from his hospital bed, "I love you with all my heart," which he had done for more than half a century.

Charles Howard Coleman, 83, died peacefully in his sleep on Sunday evening, March 8, 2009, in Placerville, California, surrounded by close family.

A long-time resident of El Dorado County, Chuck is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 62 years, Betty; son David (wife Norma); daughter Donna (husband Terry); grandsons Michael, Jon (wife Gwen), Scott; grandsons Derek, Marc, and Mike (wife Courtney); great-grandsons Joshua and Nathan; stepbrother Ed (wife Marilyn; son Bruce; daughter Kathy); sister-in-law Jane; nephews Jim,

In memory of Chuck Coleman

Jackie, and Ricky; nephew Mike (wife Linda) and niece Melanie; sister-in-law Louise; niece Susan (husband John) and nephews Tommy Joe and Michael (wife Mindy); brother-in-law Fred (wife Debbie; son Brian); nephew Michael and nieces Cathy, Pam, and Claire; cousin Mary (husband Dave); and other loved ones who remain unnamed here but not forgotten.

He was preceded in death by his father George; mother Evelyn; stepmother Teenie; sister Patricia; stepbrother Richard; father-in-law Louis; mother-in-law Irene; brothers-in-law Louis Jr. and Rick.

A private graveside service was held for Chuck on Monday, March 16, 2009, at Westwood Hills Memorial Park in Placerville, during which family friend, Kel Kitchel, of Pollock Pines, shared heartwarming memories about Chuck's life and encouraging thoughts about the upcoming resurrection. Faith-strengthening Scriptures from the Bible were read and explained, and all in attendance were invited to share in petitioning Jehovah God in prayer on behalf of Chuck and his loved ones. A reception followed at the Coleman home in Cedar Grove.