Beech Tree News Network

Glendel Ray Coleman, 88, of Morgantown, passed away on December 30, 2017, at Morgantown Care and Rehab. Glen, as he was known by his friends, was born on May 17, 1929, to Estill and Maudie Coleman. He was a lifelong resident of Butler County, attended Western Kentucky State Teachers College and taught school in a one room schoolhouse. Glen was a medic in the United States Army serving in Germany in the early 1950s, where he was injured in a fire.

Being an entrepreneur from an early age, in 1953, he and his brother David, while working for Chrysler in Evansville,
started what would become Coleman Brothers Motors. The brothers, buying and working on vehicles during the week, sold them in Morgantown on Saturdays. From that humble beginning, during the next 60 years they sold tens of thousands of cars and trucks to their friends and neighbors in Butler and surrounding counties and became one of the largest auto wholesalers in the southeast. The car lot was the first of many successful business enterprises that Glen, David and their brother Denzil, and uncle Mac, who Glen considered a brother, started or operated in Butler County. Over the years, among other businesses, the brothers started a finance company with offices in multiple cities, built houseboats with the late Lake Saling, and built more than 1,000 modular houses. During those years, they employed hundreds of their fellow Butler Countians whom they always considered family. Regardless of their business pursuits, when their father Estill called, they all became farmhands.

Glen was a Christian, husband, father, brother, grandfather and great-grandfather. He lived his life with a generous heart and adventurous spirit. He was a devoted member of Cool Springs General Baptist Church for more than 50 years and a Gideon since 1981. Glen was a Master Mason with the F&A Masonic Lodge #272, where he served as Grand Lodge District Deputy, and was a founding member and former president of the Butler County Shrine Club. He proudly served as a Director of Morgantown Bank and Trust Company for more than 30 years and was a former chairman of the Housing Authority Board of Morgantown. He was previously elected to the office of councilman for the City of Morgantown and served on numerous community boards. He was a pilot, his only true hobby, notwithstanding having survived two plane crashes and countless close calls - possibly of his own making. He was the recipient of numerous awardsand honors for his years of service to the community. Glen was a teacher, an adventurer, a storyteller, and a friend. He will be greatly missed.

Glen is survived by his wife of 63 years, Barbara Johnson Coleman; his sons, Ron Coleman and wife Cheryl of Albuquerque, New Mexico, Tim Coleman and wife Shelia of Morgantown, and Mark Coleman of Morgantown; grandchildren, Chad Coleman of Lexington, Kentucky, Ashley Walsh and husband John of Atlanta, Georgia, Heather Brooks and husband Russell, of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Kristin Garrett and husband Brian of San Antonio, Texas, and Andrew Coleman and wife Shelby of Rowlett, Texas; great-grandchildren, Jack, Caitlin, and Cole Walsh, and Evelyn Garrett; siblings, MyrlBurden of Morgantown, and Denzil Coleman and wife
Christine of Morgantown; uncle, Mac Coleman and wife Janette of Morgantown; sister in law Doris Coleman; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents and his beloved brother, David Coleman.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, January 3 from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Smith Funeral Home and with a Masonic Service at 7 p.m., and on Thursday, January 4 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cool Springs General Baptist Church. The funeral will be held on Thursday, January 4 at 1 p.m. at Cool Springs General Baptist Church with Brother David Youngblood and Brother Frankie Skipworth, Jr. officiating.  Burial Honors will follow conducted by the AmVets Post #117.  In lieu of flowers, donations to the Gideons International would be greatly appreciated.