Solon Lycurgus Coleman III's Obituary
Dr. Solon L. Coleman III, former longtime resident of Longview. passed away January 15 in San Antonio.
He was born in Uniontown, Alabama on August 26, 1929 to Solon L. Coleman II and Martha McGinnis Coleman. As a teenager, he moved to Mobile, Alabama during WWII when his mother joined the Corps of Engineers as the first woman in the survey section.
After graduating from Murphy High School in Mobile, Dr. Coleman attended Miami University of Ohio. He transferred to the University of Alabama from which he graduated and was a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. .
A third generation physician, Dr. Coleman received his Doctor of Medicine degree from the Heersink School of Medicine at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. He completed his residency at the University of Texas at Galveston. He also served in the US Naval Reserves and graduated from the US Navy Hospital Corps School.
After moving to Longview in l960, Dr. Coleman practiced internal medicine and established Internal Medicine Associates with Dr. John Vaughn. A leader in the medical community, Dr. Coleman served as Chief of Staff at Good Shepherd Medical Center. He also had privileges at Longview Regional Hospital and served on the consulting medical staffs at Hospital in the Pines in Lone Star, Roy H, Laird Memorial in Kilgore and hospitals in Gladewater and Gilmer.
Dr. Coleman was a member of the Gregg County Medical Society, the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association. He also was a member of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
A lifelong Presbyterian, Dr. Coleman belonged to the First Presbyterian Church in Longview where he served as an elder, deacon and trustee. Wednesday Night Suppers at First Presbyterian were weekly occasions at which the Coleman family generously hosted neighbors and friends.
In addition to impeccable manners and kindness, Dr. Coleman had a mischievous streak. He was a creative practical joker who was unapologetic about his tricks, frequently enlisting the help of like-minded friends. He also had a fondness for nicknames which he bestowed upon his friends’ children and used throughout their lives.
An avid hunter and fisherman, Dr. Coleman also was a world-class punster. He loved the mountains and the beach where he enjoyed many vacations.
Dr. Coleman met his wife Beverly Morris in a Sunday school class taught by his mother at the Government Street Presbyterian Church in Mobile. They were married on September 2, 1950 during a hurricane.
Beverly passed away in May 2020 four months prior to what would have been the Coleman's 70th wedding anniversary. A couple of years following Bev’s death, Dr. Coleman moved to San Antonio where he lived with his daughter.
In addition to his wife and parents, Dr. Coleman was preceded in death by his five siblings and a son Solon Lycurgus Coleman IV.
He is survived by daughter Chris Coleman Deitch of San Antonio and son Mark Harold Coleman of Longview. Also surviving are three granddaughters Elizabeth Ann Deitch of Midland, Katrina (Kati) Deitch of Lubbock and Beca Mia Coleman of Longview, Tx
A memorial service for Dr. Coleman will be at 1:30 pm February 7 at First Presbyterian Church of Longview with Rader Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. The family requests any gifts in Dr. Coleman’s memory be directed to the First Presbyterian Church, 301 N. Center St., Longview TX 75601
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