Charles Coleman Jr

Charles Coleman Jr. was born on July 2, 1934, in Ridgeland, Mississippi, to Charles Coleman
Sr. and Leah Edna Taylor. He was the couple’s only surviving child. In the late 1940s, he moved
to San Francisco, California, with his mother, where he completed his high school education.
After graduating from Polytechnic High School in San Francisco in 1952, Charles enlisted in the
United States Air Force. He served during the Korean War as a Communications Specialist.
While stationed in Germany, he contracted an unknown virus. When standard treatments proved
ineffective, he was sent back to the United States, where he received experimental cortisone
therapy. Although the treatment stopped the progression of the illness, it left him permanently
disabled. He lost his left eye, sustained scarring in his right eye that would worsen over time,
and experienced some cognitive impairments. In 1957, he received an honorable discharge and
was granted service-connected disability status, along with lifelong compensation.
Despite these challenges, Charles remained determined and resilient. With the support of his
mother, Leah Ward, and her friend Dorothy Hayes— a.k.a. the matchmakers—he met Mary
Rebecca Rowe. After a courtship, they married in 1968, and, with Leah’s help, the couple
purchased a home here in Redwood City, where they built their life together. In early fall of 1969,
they welcomed their daughter, Charlene.
Charles did not allow his visual impairments to define his life. He maintained a strong sense of
independence, even driving during daylight hours, which greatly enhanced his quality of life. He
worked for over 25 years as a mail handler at the Palo Alto Post Office. Later, fulfilling a lifelong
goal, he returned to college and earned his Associate of Arts degree from Canada College,
reflecting his deep value for education—a trait he shared with his mother.
He had a wide range of passions. Photography was one of his greatest joys; he was often seen
at social gatherings, church events, and celebrations with a camera in hand, capturing moments
and memories. He was also musically inclined, playing the trumpet and piano in his youth and
later learning the cello. In addition, he had a love for painting, completing correspondence art
courses and spending countless hours in his home studio refining his skills and exploring
different techniques.
Charles also had a fondness for mopeds and scooters. He enjoyed working on them in his
workshop, always modifying and improving them to his liking. He continued riding until he was
struck by a car near his home in Redwood City. The accident resulted in the loss of his spleen,
after which his wife insisted he stop riding. Though he agreed, he still owned one of each at the
time of his passing.
Charles Coleman Jr. passed away on Saturday, April 25, 2026. He was 91. He is survived by
his daughter, Charlene Coleman, as well as a host of cousins, godchildren, and dear friends. He
will be deeply missed.

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