James I. Coffman

Rev. James I. Coffman, 82, of St. Joseph, went to meet his Lord & Savior Jesus Christ on February 13, 2007 at his home. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:30 A.M. Friday at the Road to Life Church, 3800 Niles Rd., St. Joseph with Pastor Michael Schoeplein officiating. Burial will follow at Hickory Bluff Cemetery in Stevensville. Friends may call from 5-8 P.M. Thursday at Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Memorials may be made to Road to Life Church Missions or Hospice at Home. Those wishing to share a memory or sign the guest book online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com. Rev. Coffman was born December 19, 1924 in Lubbock, Texas to Thomas & Ida (Lamb) Coffman. He served his country in the US Navy Sea Bees, during WWII, stationed in the South Pacific. On June 28, 1947, he married the former Billie Howell in Lubbock, Texas. Rev. Coffman served several churches in Texas before moving to this area in 1971 to become the Pastor of the Benton Harbor Tabernacle. In 1973, the congregation moved into their new church in St. Joseph, the Niles Road Community Church, which Pastor Coffman headed until his retirement in 1995. He remained a member of the church, now know as the Road to Life Church. Pastor Coffman continued to serve on several mission boards. In his spare time, he enjoyed golfing at all of the area courses. Pastor Coffman is survived by his wife Billie; two sons-James Coffman of Summertown, TN, Raymond (Olivia) Coffman of Georgetown, TX; his daughter Charlotte Coffman of Benton Harbor; five grandchildren-Sharlee, Chase, Christina, Hunter & Logan; a sister-in-law Ann Coffman of Slaton, TX; and numerous nieces & nephews. Pastor Coffman was preceded in death by his parents, by his brother T.J. Coffman, and by two sisters-Addie Wooten & Orgie Smith.