Charles Willard Colemen, 92, passed away peacefully Monday, September 21, 2020 at River Mountain Village Advanced Care where he had been a resident for 8 months.  He died of natural causes.

Charles was born in 1928 in Richwood, West Virginia.  His parents were Ellis and Sylvania Coleman.  He was one of nine siblings.  Sisters Ruth Fiedler, Virginia Ockert, Virgy Kirby, and an infant sister, also brothers Franklin Coleman, Daniel Coleman, Enoc Coleman, and Daryll Coleman.  Charles was the last surviving of them.

His family moved to Priest River when he was one year old.  They lived and worked on a farm in the West Branch of Priest River, Idaho.  His father, Ellis, worked where the Columbia Bank sits now, as a horse caretaker for the horse loggers of the area.  Charles went to school in Priest River and was class president all through high school.

He became a logger right after high school, then went into the PFC Army in California for 2 years.  He then went to Eastern State College for a BA in education, and then to Whitworth for his master's degree in education.

He married Avangia M. Ostermiller in 1954 and were together until her death in 2016.  They had four children, David Coleman, Julie Pizzalato, Cynthia Pettit, and Susan Jamison (deceased) and seven grandchildren.

He taught school for 31 years and sold cars as Runk's Garage among other odd jobs until he started working for the US Forest Service during many summer school breaks.  He was supervisor in the Boy Scouts for many years and was a member of the "Friends of the Library Book Club." He spent many years as Smokey The Bear in local parades.

His earlier years were spent fishing, hunting, and gardening.  He loved poetry and could recite poems right up until his death.  Charles and Vangie loved going to Leavenworth, Washington with good friends, Bonnie Evans and Bonnie Johnson Behrens, and many other loving friends.

Some of Charles' favorite past times by himself as well as with family were simply to have picnics by a creek or river in our beautiful area and getting firewood.  He also had a group of friends that met at AJ's every Thursday for lunch. They called themselves the "Lunch Bunch".

Charles was a member of Cedar Hills Church and had two special friends that went there and often gave him rides there, Connie Makay and Virginia Chavez.  Loving God, church, and fellowship so much during his final years.

A very special thank you to Bonnie Evans for all of the rides to Thursday's "Lunch Bunch". Also, a very special thank you to Dr. Kraus and Newport Community Hospital and River Mountain Village Advanced Care.  We are so fortunate to have such professionals that are so loving and caring. At Charles request, there will be no funeral service.

Sherman-Campbell Funeral & Cremation Services in Newport is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends are invited to sign the online guest book at shermancampbell.com.