Ronald Rod Coleman fell sleep in death on Tuesday morning, May 27 th , at the age of 96. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio, to Ansel R. and Ida Wenhart Coleman on January 30, 1929. Ronald graduated from Chester High School, in Chesterland, Ohio in 1947. He then attended Newberry College, in Newberry, South Carolina, where his father’s family lived. Returning to Cleveland, he briefly attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. Even as a child, Ronald had a deep love for God and began ministerial activities in 1948 as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses.

Postponing his education to serve God more fully, in 1953 he became a full-time minister and moved to Bunkie, Louisiana when he met Barbara Edith Grelle. After their marriage on April 22, 1956, they returned to Ronald’s home of Cleveland where he continued his ministry among the German, Italian, and Puerto Rican populations, learning German and Spanish to enhance his ministry. The couple welcomed two daughters, Anna (1957) and Naomi (1961), during their time in Cleveland and then relocated to Brownwood, Texas, where Rebekah (1964) was born.

Alongside his ministry, he established Guaranteed Plumbing and Air Conditioning, known

throughout Brown County for their honest work and bright yellow vintage trucks. His love for education motivated him to take up where he left off those years ago and he completed his bachelor’s degree in history at Tarleton State University in Stephenville, TX in 1984. He also pursued a Master’s degree in History at the University of Texas in San Antonio. In Brownwood he served as a congregation Elder for many years among both English and Spanish congregations of Jehovah’s Witnesses, continuing his ministry in Brown, Comanche, and Erath Counties. He had deep feelings for the oppressed, expending himself tirelessly toward advancing the interests of God’s Kingdom, under Jesus Christ, as the only solution to the problems of mankind. He lived just as he taught, according to Christian principles, always keeping in mind the biblical promises of the resurrection of the dead to a paradise earth ruled by Jesus Christ.

Ronald is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara, their three daughters, Anna Brandon

(spouse David) of Hillsboro, TX, Naomi Medina (spouse Richard) of San Marcos, TX, and

Rebekah Hardy of Frisco, TX; four grandchildren, Rachel Goldberg, Sarah Nelson, David Comer, and Charles Hardy; and seven great-grandchildren, Jack Nelson, Evie, Aidah, and Locke Comer, and Talia, Doran, and Noah Goldberg. He is also survived by his sister Ida Reid of Cleveland, Ohio and brother Allan Holden of Fort Pierce, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Ansel Coleman, and sisters Coral Abraham and Robin Crager.

Ronald’s family will host a visitation on Thursday May 29th from 5 to 7 pm at Heartland Funeral Home in Early. Funeral Services will be held at the Heartland Funeral Home in Early, TX, on May 30th at 2 PM with interment to follow at Staley Cemetery in Early.