Edward Caswell Coleman Jr.

Edward Caswell Coleman, Jr., 92, of Petersburg, VA, died January 21, 2017. He was the son of the late Edward Caswell and Virginia Stratton Coleman and was also preceded in death by a daughter, Nena Coleman Caskie. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Jean Long Coleman; children, Claudia Coleman Pachios (Harold), Edward Caswell Coleman, III, Patricia Aline Coleman, and Allen Thomas Long. Coleman (Robin), 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. Born January 25, 1924 in Lynchburg, VA, Mr. Coleman was raised in Petersburg and graduated from Petersburg High School. Soon after graduation, he joined the Naval Aviation Program, and upon completion, elected to serve as a Marine Corps pilot in WWII. Assigned to the Pacific Theatre, his squadron was later sent to the Philippines to prepare for the invasion of Japan. He rose to the rank Captain and then was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp. After the war he returned to Petersburg and married Jean Long in 1946. They moved to Northern Virginia where he attended Georgetown University. They moved to New York in 1948 where he attended Fordham University and worked in sales for Long Manufacturing Company of Petersburg. In 1950, they returned to Petersburg where Mr. Coleman worked full time at Long Manufacturing, rising from Sales Manager to Vice President. He was an active parishioner of St. Joseph Catholic Church and served on the Board of St. Joseph School. He was active in local politics and also served as Chairman of Petersburg Democrats for Eisenhower in 1956 and Nixon in 1960. He was also a member of the Jaycees and a member of the Country Club of Petersburg. Mr. Coleman enjoyed tennis, gardening and entertaining, especially the annual bloody mary and oyster party on Thanksgiving and the Shrove Tuesday Lenten party both held at the family residence. He will miss the mountains of Virginia, a fine Cigar, Kentucky Bourbon and a good pun. A service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 28, 2017 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 151 W. Washington Street, Petersburg, VA followed by interment at St. Joseph Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to St. Josephs School 123 Franklin St. Petersburg Va. 23803Condolences may be registered at www.jtmorriss.com .