Joseph Francis (Papaw) Coffman, 84, of Lincoln, died at 8 p.m. on Nov. 3, 2006, at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln.

Mr. Coffman was born on Dec. 16, 1921, in Jefferson County to Samuel and Catherine Bray Coffman.

In 1963 he married Theresa Ferne Boswell Stover in Benton. She preceded him in death on Oct. 29, 1994.

Mr. Coffman was a Claims Adjuster with State Farm Insurance Company and Laborers Local #895.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Thursday, at Fricke-Calvert-Schrader Funeral Home in Lincoln. Frank Bush will officiate. Burial will be at New Union Cemetery in Lincoln, with full Military Rites accorded. Visitation will be at 9:30 a.m. until 11 am. Thursday at the funeral home, prior to service.

Mr. Coffman is survived by step daughters Peggy (Donald) Stover Irvin of Mt. Vernon, and Rosita (Marvin) Stover Jenkins of Lincoln; brother Shuford (Evelyn) Coffman of Mt. Vernon; grandchildren Julia Carr Goree of Mt. Vernon, Michelle (Chris) Jenkins Allison of Atlanta, Ryan (Scott) Jenkins Bradford of Overland, Mo.; great grandchildren Celeste Jane Carr of Kansas City, Kan., Allison and Leah Goree of Mt. Vernon, Emily, Elizabeth "Libby" and Jesse Reiners of Atlanta.

Mr. Coffman was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, sister and grandson Bruce Carr.

Mr. Coffman attended the Jefferson St. Christian Church.

He served as a 1st Lt. in the Army during WW II, stationed in Europe. He was a graduate of the University of Illinois and University of Illinois Law School.

He moved from Mt. Vernon to Logan Co. in 1973.

He was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars in Mt. Vernon. He was an avid reader, cat lover, gardener and history buff.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Logan County Humane Society.

Source: Register-News, Mt Vernon IL
Date: November 8, 2006
Submitted by: Robert W. Loman