William Coleman

Luginbuel Funeral Home, Vinita…….918-256-5555. William (Rod) Coleman was born September 8, 1933 to William Ramsey Coleman and Margaret Ann (Sims) Coleman of Tulsa, Ok. He graduated from Broken Arrow High School in 1951 and attended the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ar. Rod worked in his father's business, Coleman Instrument Company, with younger brother Chuck through the 1950's and early 1960's. The company specialized in the manufacture of aircraft components and very intricate instrumentation. Many of these products required heat treating to develop specific material properties. Thus in September 1963, Rod formed Coleman Metal Treating, Inc. of Tulsa. The business and its offspring have thrived ever since, with the second company, Coleman Heat Treating, Inc. of Jacksonville, Ar and a third, Coleman Commercial Steel Treating, Inc of Southaven, Ms. Rod was a very proud and humble gentleman - never pretentious or ostentatious. He always treated his customers with dignity and respect. Likewise, his employees were simply friends that happened to carry different responsibilities under the same roof. Everyone worked toward the same cause because of Rod's inspiration. Many of those individuals have remained lifelong friends. A tremendous athlete in his younger years, Rod enjoyed coaching and watching his boys participate in many sports. Rod also served as the announcer for scores of our football and baseball games. Years later he said that originally he just wanted to have the best seats, but really he just loved doing it. We all were introduced to OU football, TU basketball and Tulsa Oiler Hockey. The later Saturday games were followed by the short drive to "The Lake." Family vacations were supplanted by building rock forts and learning to ski and catch sand bass off the point in the summer. He dearly loved his grandchildren, and they were fortunate to enjoy him attending their games, plus high school and college graduations. Grumps, as he was called by all of us, was often content to see all the kids dive off the boat dock or the cliff at Dripping Springs. Some of the best memories are 4th of July rib dinners and driving up the lake to Duck Creek for the fireworks. Not one to sit still for long. Rod built Hammerhead Marina, bought a restaurant in Ketchum and was part owner of Goldie's in Muskogee. As time went by his love of fishing and hunting took up a lot of his time. Rod loved to go to our farm-hunting lodge (Bucksnort Farms) in Welch. Rod and son Jimbo grew crops and raised black Angus cattle. Rod loved his wife, Marie, beyond description. They traveled coast-to-coast and border-to-border (dogs included) in their "bus"; from the great Northwest to Disney World. They had a partnership that should be anyone's goal. Numerous ventures prospered, farmlands, children, and grandchildren grew, but his joy for living with his "woman" (as firmly stated last week!) stood above them all. Rod was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Charles Sims Coleman. Rod's family includes his son Bill (BC) Coleman and wife Mary Jane of Norman, Ok, granddaughter Allison and spouse Spencer Parker, grandsons Russ and Jack and granddaughter Jill. Son Michael (Mick) Coleman and wife Mona of Southaven, Ms. Granddaughter Casey and spouse John Gleysteen and grandson Michael Coleman. Son Jared (Jerry) Coleman and wife Mary Lea of North Little Rock, Ar. Grandsons Jared, Kevin, and Wesley. Son James (Jimbo) Coleman and wife Alicia of Ketchum, Ok. Grandsons Wyatt and Cody, granddaughter Tiffany. And 3 great grandsons Masen, Riley and Porter. Rod is also survived by niece Christie Livingston of Ketchum, Ok. Memorial services for Rod will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, January 21, 2017, at Church on the Lake, Ketchum, Ok. On-line condolences maybe submitted at honoringmemories.com.

Service Details

Saturday, January 21st, 2017 2:00pm, Church on the Lake