COLEMAN, KARL B.

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — Karl Burton Coleman, 85, of Charlottesville, passed away on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2006 at Martha Jefferson Hospital in Charlottesville following a brief illness.

He was born on Feb. 24, 1921 in Williamson. Mr. Coleman was a graduate of Belfry High School, Belfry, Ky. In 1952, he graduated from the University of Miami, Fla., with a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Management. Mr. Coleman was the eldest son of the late Everett Shannon and Flora Coleman. He retired as an entrepreneur of the Southland Corporation in Charlottesville and had the pleasure of receiving an excellence business award of top sales on the East Coast. Mr. Coleman was married to the late Madeline Coleman, daughter of the late Hufford and Maude Looney of Roseann, Va.

He is survived by two daughters, Antonia Shonnane Looney Coleman and Lisa Renee Coleman-Gorak of Charlottesville; one brother, Amos Jean (AJ) Coleman and his wife Edna Smith Coleman of Homecreek, Va.; one sister, Ruth Stiltner Stanley and her husband Ersel Stanley of Hardy, Ky.

Mr. Coleman was preceded in death by one brother, Everett Shannon Coleman Jr. and his wife Linda Coleman, Sacramento, Ky.; one sister, Grace, deceased at infancy; one grandson, Joseph Shannon Gorak, Charlottesville; and many nephews and nieces.

Mr. Coleman was a member of the Special Forces unit of the First Marine Raider Battalion of the U.S. [Marine Corps] during World War II. For exhibiting brave service during the raid of Guadalcanal he received the Navy Cross. He also served during the Korean conflict era and was Chief of Medical Services. He was honored in the “Guadalcanal Diary” for his act of bravery and medical expertise. Mr. Coleman was also was named in the book “Out in the Boondocks.”

Funeral services for Karl Burton Coleman will be conducted Monday, Oct. 30, 2006 at 1 p.m. at the Grundy Funeral Home Chapel in Grundy, Va. with Evg. Michael Trent of Little Prater Church of Christ and Evg. Mike Rife of Vansant Church of Christ officiating with burial to follow in Mountain Valley Memorial Park, Big Rock, Va.

Friends may call at Grundy Funeral Home Chapel today at 6 p.m. with services at 7:30 p.m.

Active pallbearers will be Gregory Alan Lovell, Stanley Terrence Lovell, Timothy Aaron Lovell, Kenneth Karl Reynolds II, Christopher Sean Beverlin, and Gary Coleman.

Honorary pallbearers will be Ersel Stanley, Jerry Coleman, Steve Elgin, Charles Ratliff, Ronnie Coleman, Dorsey Merton Looney and Gary Frederick Lovell.

Mr. Coleman will receive full military honors and rights to be conducted by members of John Ratliff Post No. 164 of the American Legion at Mountain Valley Memorial Park Cemetery, Big Rock.

Grundy Funeral Home of Grundy is in charge of all arrangements.