Obituary of Barbara Jane Coleman

MUNROE FALLS - Barbara Jane Coleman was born in Ada, Ohio on October 13, 1927. Her parents were Jennie Stober Epley and George Epley; her sister was Beatrice Epley Wright and her brother was Richard Epley, all deceased. Barbara was married to Paul Alex Coleman for 46 years and they were the first couple to be married in the little white chapel at Stow First Christian Church. They have five surviving children: Linda Cheryl Berthold (Paul), Kris Alex Coleman, Kevin Paul Coleman, Tina Marie Holley (John), and Leisa Jane Cook. Barbara leaves nine grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. Barbara was a registered nurse and was trained at Akron City Hospital and then completed a fellowship of six months working with the Navajos in Arizona. She was blessed with a lovely voice and sang in the Stow First Christian Church choir and several other choirs in Stow. She belonged to the Stow Woman’s Club, Stow Grange, Stow Historical Society, Red Hatter’s of Silver Lake Towers, and Guild of Stow First Christian Church. Barbara Jane Coleman loved to read, sew, travel, spend time with her family, and play Bingo! Barbara and Paul Coleman were able to travel around America in a motorhome, experienced trips to Alaska, Hawaii, Spain, Portugal, Ireland, England, Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, and Canada. Barbara and Paul Coleman lived on the property previously owned by Roy and Nina Parpart, north/west of the Stow Police Station; it is a park now, called The Sancturetum. We children grew up on this small farm raising chickens, ducks, goats, rabbits, pigs, geese, and a mule. There were two large organic gardens, (before organic was popular!), and many fruits and vegetables that my mother canned every year! As children, we would walk home from school and be greeted with fresh baked bread and honey (from the hives)! Barbara was a hard-working, strong-willed, devoted person who always gave her best to her family. She lived twenty-five years at Silver Lake Towers after her husband passed and enjoyed her time travelling in her Mini-Wini motorhome. Then, at 90 years old, it was time to move to Mulberry Gardens Assisted Living in Munroe Falls, where she completed her life in comfort. Calling hours will be held Sunday, January 9, 2022, from 1:00 to 3:00 PM followed by a memorial service at 3:00 PM, conducted by Pastor Jonathan Rumburg, at Redmon Funeral Home, 3633 Darrow Road, Stow 44224.