The Portsmouth Times

 

R. Kenneth Coles, 90, of Minford, died Sunday, August 21, 2011 at his residence.

 

He was born June 29, 1921 in Scioto County, a son of the late Frank E. and Sarah Caroline Zaler Coles.  Kenneth worked on the 200-plus year old family farm, for the A-Plant, Detroit Steele, Frowine Hardware, Erwin-Dodson Allen Funeral Home, and he retired in 1982 from Minford School District where he was a bus driver and an outside maintenance man.

 

Kenneth is a member of the Lucasville Masonic Lodge and received his 60th year Masonic pin in 2006.  He has also been a member of the Madison Grange and Minford Lion's Club.

 

Kenneth was a member of Fairview Missionary Baptist Church where he had served in several different offices and capacities, and he and his wife Loretta had a ministry for many years visiting the widows and elderly of the church and community.

 

Kenneth is survived by his wife, Loretta Young Cole whom he married in 1956; three daughters Vicki (Stephen) Crabtree, Teresa Coles and Cindy (Richard) Colley; all of Lucasville; five grandchildren, Eric Crabtree, Nancy Coles-Turner, Yolanda Gilmer, Sheresa College, Farren Colley; seven great-grandchildren; Ethan Crabtree, Elijah Crabtree, Elizabeth (Elle) Turner, Wayne Gilmer, James Gilmer, Aaron Gilmer, Chase Okey; and several nieces and nephews.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife; Violet Pfleger Coles in 1952; two brothers, George Coles and Charles Coles; and three sisters, Ruth Hagen, Roseanna Bennett and Mary Kathern Smalley.

 

The family would like to thank SOMC Hospice for their exceptional care.

 

Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, August 25, 2011, at Fairview Missionary Baptist Church with Pastor Tim Palla officiating.  Burial will be in Bennett Cemetery in Minford.  Friends may call at Erwin-Dodson-Allen Funeral Home in Minford from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and one hour prior to the service on Thursday at the church.  Masonic services will be conducted at 8 p.m. Wednesday by Lucasville Masonic Lodge No. 465.

 

In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to Gideon's International, PO Box 291, Wheelersburg, Ohio 45694.