Herb Coman

J. Herbert Coman, 88 of 529 Crowfields Lane, Asheville, died peacefully following an extended illness on July 13 at the John Keever Solace Center, where he and his family received exemplary care from the compassionate, dedicated staff. He was the third child born to the late Floy Wilson Coman, a school teacher, and the late Grover Lonus Coman, an employee of Southern Railroad, on Oct. 20, 1920 in Dutch Cove, Canton, NC. Herb was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 54 years, Elizabeth Rhodes Coman; his sister Selma Coman Dicus; his brother, William Reuben Coman and nephews William Coman Dicus and Howard William Coman. Mr. Coman was a veteran, serving in the U. S. Army Air Corp, 745 Bombardment Squadron during WWII in the Mediterranean and Italy. He was awarded The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by the Governor of the State of North Carolina in 2002. At Asheville Buncombe Technical College he served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Trustee Emeritus, and received the President`s Award. He was a member of the Kiwanis Club of Black Mountain Swannanoa for 47 years, receiving the George F. Hixson Fellow, the Distinguished Service Award and the Legion of Merit Award and was a member of the Country Club of Asheville and former member of the Board of Governors. Herb was a graduate of the University of South Carolina with a BS in Geology and a Masters Degree in Education from the University of North Carolina. He was a former President of the Kappa Phi Kappa Education Fraternity and member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was also former President of the WNC Personnel Club, President of the Western Carolina Manufactures Association, President of the WNC Safety Council, member of the NC Department of Labor OSHA Board, the Swannanoa Community Council, President of the Swannanoa Men`s Club, member of the Black Mountain Chamber of Commerce and served on the Human Relations Council. He served as Chairman of the Citizens Committee for Better Schools for Buncombe County and on the Task Force to Study Buncombe County Schools. He was Chairman of the Personnel Advisory Board for the Buncombe County Sheriff`s Department and President and Founder of the Swannanoa Valley Medical Center and served on the Owen District School Council. He was a member and Chairman of the WNC and NC Employment Security Commissions, member and Chairman of the Swannanoa Valley Fire Department and was a member of Swannanoa Methodist Church, teaching Sunday School for 50 years and serving as Lay Speaker. He was a current member of the Biltmore United Methodist Church. Herb served on the Governor`s N.C. Task Force on Science and Technology and was Trustee and Secretary on the Advisory Board of the NC School of Math and Science in Durham. Herb was a member of the WNC Sports Hall Fame, the UNCA Athletic Hall of Fame and the Owen High School Athletic Hall of Fame. At Lee Edwards High School he earned twelve Letters in football, basketball and baseball, was All State three times, All Southern, and played in the inaugural NC Shrine Bowl. At the University of South Carolina he earned seven Letters in football, basketball, baseball, and was named All South Football. He coached at David Millard Jr. High School, Lee Edwards High School, served as Asheville-Biltmore College (UNCA) Athletic Director, Dean of Men and Football Coach. He was an Athletic Official in high school and college, calling 746 varsity football games and over 2500 basketball games. Herb is survived by his wife, Sara Ruple Coman of Asheville and brother Howard G. Coman of Woodruff, SC; children, James Herbert Coman, Jr. and wife, Helen, of Asheville, Gerald Rhodes Coman of Myrtle Beach and Elizabeth Anne Coman O`Connor and husband, Bernie, of Cary; four grandsons, Jason Rhodes Coman and wife, Jodi, of Mars Hill, Brett Middleton Coman of Myrtle Beach, Patrick Coman O`Connor and wife, Sarah, of Eugene, Oregon and Cameron Wilson O`Connor of Wheaton College, Illinois; a great granddaughter, Elizabeth Grace Coman of Mars Hill; nieces and nephews, Rebecca Jane Dicus, Susan Dicus Walters, Marie Dicus Ivester, Fabiane Coman Bartlett and Jeffery Arthur Coman. A memorial service will be held at Biltmore United Methodist Church at 3:00 pm on Thursday conducted by the Reverend Susan E. Pillsbury-Taylor. The family will receive friends following the service. A private, family interment was held at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the AB Tech Foundation, the Eblen-Kimmel Foundation, the Swannanoa United Methodist Church or the Mountain Amateur Athletic Club, c/o J.D. Jackson Assoc.