Charles M. Coleman 1950-2024

Chuck was born Dec. 30, 1950, in Youngstown, the son of Charles P. and Helen Kohut Coleman. A 1968 graduate of Chaney High School, Chuck was nominated to the United States Military Academy at West Point by former Congressman Mike Kirwan. He graduated in 1972 and was commissioned in the regular Army as a second lieutenant in military intelligence.

Chuck was a graduate of the U.S. Army infantry, intelligence and engineer schools, the Army Command and General Staff College and the U.S. Army War College. He retired from the Army in 2002 after 30 years of combined active and reserve component duty, including assignments as a special agent with U.S. Army intelligence and the Defense Investigative Service; assistant professor of military science at YSU; design engineer for the Ohio Army National Guard 16th Engineer Brigade; director of intelligence and security for the Ohio National Guard; and commander, Fort Ohio, which includes Camp Perry, Camp Sherman and Camp Garfield. His awards include the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters and the Legion of Merit.

In addition to his B.S. degree in engineering from West Point, Chuck earned an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace College; he was also a senior service college fellow in international security studies at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in Boston.

Chuck retired from Linde Hydraulics Corporation in Canfield in 2020. He worked for Linde for over 20 years as a process control manager and government business development manager. He previously held numerous senior managerial positions in various manufacturing companies, including contract manager for Babcock and Wilcox Company, Naval Nuclear Equipment Division, and director of business processes for Bliss-Salem Company.

In addition to his military and civilian experiences, Chuck participated in numerous community and civic activities, including as a member of the Canfield Township Zoning Commission for 15 years; vice chairman of the Canfield COVID Defense Task Force, which provided information and guidance to the Canfield community throughout the pandemic; vice chairman of the board of Advanced Methods in Innovation (AMI), a nonprofit company that evolved from the Youngstown Business Incubator devoted to providing additive manufacturing education and experience in grades K-12; and admissions participant for West Point, assisting interested high school students in navigating the often-daunting application and Congressional nomination process.

Chuck was an avid rock ‘n’ roll and blues music buff whose knowledge of groups, songs and lyrics was gleaned from his years as a DJ at WKDT AM/FM, West Point, on “The Nightride” show with close friend and classmate, Willy Harlan; and in the mid-’90s at WRMU-FM, University of Mount Union, on the blues show “Off the Charts” with best friend, Andy Haag.

Chuck met his wife, Holly Dutton, on a blind date in 1972; they married in 1973. Their daughter, Sarah, graduated from Canfield High School and Ohio University, and lives and works in Lexington, Kentucky.

Chuck successfully beat squamous cell cancer twice; he was a devoted attendee of Axio Fitness and diligently walked his beloved golden retriever, General MacArthur (“Mac”). It was not unusual to see him at local car shows with his 1969 Opal GT or attending Canfield American Legion Post 177 meetings and events. He was instrumental in the completion of the veterans plaza on the north village green in Canfield, as well as in keeping members and West Point classmates connected, both in person and virtually.

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Venisa.

Besides his wife and daughter, he leaves to cherish his memory, sisters Naomi (Whitey) Sherick of Canfield, Mary Kathleen Coleman of Poland and Melissa (Ed) Brudzinski of Alliance; as well as niece and nephew, Rachel Vernon and Seth Sherick; and great-nieces, Brittany and Brooklyn Sellers.

In honor of his late mother’s wishes, Chuck spent Sunday mornings with his sisters, having breakfast and reviewing the events from the past week, while dogs, Mac and General George S. Patton Jr. (“Patton”), also siblings, had their Sunday morning playdate.

He will be deeply missed by his family, friends, colleagues and West Point classmates, all of whom have graciously shared memories and photos that will be on display at his ceremony.

A short service will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024, at Zion Lutheran Church, 3300 Canfield Road, Youngstown, OH 44511. Attendees may then travel to the veterans plaza in Canfield for a rifle salute and flag presentation. A “Big C Celebration” will take place at Chuck’s Canfield farm immediately after; all are warmly welcomed. Please expect good food, great music and Hawaiian shirts — he would not want to be sent home any other way.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that gifts be made in Chuck’s honor to either West Point or to Canfield American Legion Post 177.

Gifts to West Point may be made to the West Point Association of Graduates in support of the Class of 1972 Gift Fund. Gifts may be made online at www.westpointaog.org/giveto72, by phone at 845-446-1656 or mailed to West Point Association of Graduates, ATTN: Gift Operations, 698 Mills Road, West Point, NY 10996. Please reference Charles M. Coleman COL USA (ret).

Gifts to the Canfield American Legion Post 177 may be mailed to Canfield American Legion Post 177, PO Box 53, Canfield, OH 44406.

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