Robert Ray Coleman

One of seven children born to Vivian Elizabeth and RC Coleman, Robert Ray Coleman graced this world with his presence on July 30th, 1949, in Houston, Texas. Later known for his sharp, comedic wit, dedication to his passions, and service to our country, young Ray was known mostly for his playful antics and his love for his mother.

After high school, Ray enlisted in the US Army and went on his first deployment to Vietnam in the spring of 1969. He later redeployed to Vietnam in 1976 and also served later in Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm. His time in Vietnam would inevitably change the trajectory of his life. During this span of time while stationed at Ft. Gordon in Augusta, Georgia, Ray would meet and marry Betty Fairley and start a family – son, Ryan, and daughter, Rebekah. With twenty-two years of service, multiple accolades, medals, bars, and stars, Ray retired from the Army and pursued another passion: numbers.

Those who knew Ray in this capacity will kindly recall the somewhat vacant yet somehow focused expression as he mentally calculated some percentage, some rate, some conglomeration of numbers. He garnered a degree in accounting from what was then Augusta College and began working as a private accountant for Creighton Laircey. While he and Betty parted amicably, his true passion and pursuit in life then developed.

Bridge.

Robert Ray Coleman loved playing Bridge.

He quickly founded what would later become Ray Coleman's Bridge Club, and the close-knit community he built there sustained him after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s—an illness linked to his exposure to Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. He desperately wished to pass this Bridge-playing legacy on to his children, who were considerably more interested in the wages paid while caddying at tournaments than learning the game. Through the Bridge Club, he was also able to meet Ann Owens, his partner in all aspects.

In retirement from being an accountant, Ray focused most of his attention to playing bridge, attending University of Georgia games with Ann, visiting his family in Texas, and watching his family continue to grow. He doted on his granddaughter, Sophia. He was thrilled to walk his daughter down her sand aisle in her wedding, then dance with his new daughter-in-law at his son’s wedding, before welcoming his second granddaughter, Johanna, and first grandson, Rhys. He was enamored with the idea of his third granddaughter, Ruby, due later this summer.

Unfortunately to all of those who knew him, loved him, joked and played with him, he succumbed to the complications of a surgery meant to help manage his steadily progressing Parkinson’s. He left this world for a better one on May 9th, 2025. He is survived by his partner, Ann Owens; his son, Ryan Coleman, and his wife, Brittany Coleman; his daughter, Rebekah Burke; his step-son, Thomas Fairley, and his wife, Teri Fairley; his granddaughter, Sophie Coleman; his granddaughter, Johanna Burke; his grandson, Rhys Coleman; and soon-to-be granddaughter, Ruby Coleman; as well as the mother of his children, Betty Coleman; his brother, Ronnie Coleman, and his wife, Carolyn Coleman; his brother, Carl Coleman and his wife Patsy; his sister, Tricia Bradberry, and her husband, Phil Bradberry; his sister, Janice Brent, and her husband, Teddy Brent; his brother, David Coleman, and his wife, Leah Coleman; his sister, Barbara Chitrit, and her husband, Isaac Chitrit; a multitude of much-loved nieces, nephews, as well as the loving family he acquired through Ann. He is preceded in death by his parents, RC and Vivian Coleman, and his step-son, George Evans. His legacy lives on through the people who were graced with his engaging wit, with the skills he developed in dealing cards, the lives he molded as a drill sergeant, and the people who he loved.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Disabled Veteran’s National Foundation or the Parkinson’s Foundation.

Military Service Recognitions: Army Service Ribbon

Vietnam Service Medal with 3 Service Stars

Army Commendation Medal 2nd OLC

Army Achievement Medal

Good Conduct Medal 5th Award

Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross with Palm Unit Citation

National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star

Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal

NCO Professional Development Ribbon with Number 3

Overseas Service Ribbon with Number 3

Meritorious Service Medal

Southwest Asia Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars

Overseas Service Bar -2

Combat Infantryman Badge

Drill Sergeant Identification Badge

Expert Infantryman Badge

Sharpshooter Marksmanship Badge Rifle, M-16

Expert Marksmanship Badge M-60 Machine Gun

Kuwait Liberation Medal

Retired Rank: MSG

The funeral service will be held Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 11:00 A.M. in the chapel of Thomas Poteet & Son with Dean Hokrein officiating. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, beginning at 10:00 A.M., at the funeral home.

Interment will be Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 10:00 A.M. at Ft. Jackson National Cemetery.