Coffman Family

Dwight Edwards Coffman Obituary

Dwight Edwards Coffman, 86, retired industrialist, passionate American and dedicated Christian, died peacefully on Monday, March 29, 2004, at Willow Brook Christian Home, of Columbus, OH. He was a charter member of Fayette Bible Church in Washington Court House and associated with Calvary Bible Church in Columbus.

His wife of 56 years, Judge Evelyn Coffman (retired), along with his son, Tom and his wife, Kathi, were at his side as he passed from this life to the loving arms of His Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.

Mr. Coffman lived most of his life in Washington Court House, OH, where he was the fourth generation of his family to head the woodworking enterprise that became Coffman Stair Company. For decades one of the largest employers in Fayette County, Coffman Stair earned a national reputation among homebuilders for the high quality of its choice wood prefabricated staircases.

Most of the company's manufacturing operations were relocated to the former Sun Ray Furniture plat in Logan, OH, after a spectacular fire destroyed the main assembly factory on December 29, 1963.

Mr. Coffman remained president of the company until it was sold in the early 1970's.

For a number of years, Mr. Coffman was nationally prominent in conservative political circles that he believed helped preserve and strengthen the American way of life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lewis C. and Mabel (Free) Coffman, by his older brother and long-time business partner, Willis and by his former wife, Mary Jane.

Mr. Coffman is survived by his wife, Evelyn Wickensimer Coffman, retired Judge of the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas; by his sons, Ron L. Coffman (Sharon F. Simmons), writer and editor, Toledo, OH, Dr. George F. Coffman (Judy), professor of Microbiology at James Madison University, and Pastor Tom Coffman (Kathi), Associate Pastor of Calvary Bible Church of Columbus, OH, and by his grandchildren, Peter, Gregg, Daniel and Drew Coffman and Lori Coffman and Tracy Coffman, of Huron, OH, and Monty Coffman, of Toledo, OH.

Friends may call Thursday, April 1, 2004, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Weir-Arend Funeral Home, 4221 N. High St. (3 blocks S. of Henderson Rd), where services will be Friday at 10:30 a.m. Pastor Tom Coffman and Pastor Peter Foxx officiating. Interment will be 2:30 p.m. at Washington Cemetery, Washington Court House, Ohio.

Memorial gifts in Dwight's memory may be made to Northside Christian School or Calvary Bible Church, 3865 North High St., Columbus, Ohio 43214.

/Chillicothe Gazette, April 1, 2004