ERROR ON TOMBSTONE: Date of Birth given as May 26, 1926 is INCORRECT - BIRTH CERTIFICATE STATES: 26 APRIL 1926 at 4:45 AM. - See Photo

SEAMAN 2nd CLASS HARLAN BENJAMIN COFFMAN 1926-1975

Harlan Benjamin Coffman born on the 26th of April 1926, was the 10th of 11 children born to Mary Magdalene BLANKENSHIP Coffman 1882-1973 and her husband, John Edward "Ed" Coffman 1876-1941.

John and Maggie Coffman were the parents of 11 children:

1 - Rose Lee Coffman 1901 – 1980
2 - Myrtle Frances Coffman 1903 – 1995
3 - Wilda "Alberta" Coffman 1905 – 2002
4 - MARY "HAZEL" Coffman 1907 – 1988
5 - Cecilia "Florence" Coffman 1909 – 1998
6 - Albert John Coffman 1912 – 1970
7 - Margaret Emily Coffman 1914 – 1988
8 - Jasper Freely Coffman 1915 – 1968
9 - Katherine "Kate" Jeanette Coffman 1917 – 1977
10 - Harlan Benjamin Coffman 1926 – 1975
11 - Mildred "Millie" Maxine Coffman 1928 – 2012

John and Maggie raised their eleven children on their farm. No indoor plumbing, no disposable diapers, no modern conveniences.

Harlan Coffman enlisted in the Navy on the 1st of May 1944 and received the rank of Seaman 2nd Class. He was sent to Okinawa during World War II. After Harlan was released from the Navy on the 5th of February 1946 he returned to Indianapolis, Indiana.

Harlan Coffman married 1st - Betty Lou Hamilton and they had a son:

1 - Garry Coffman

Harlan Coffman married 2nd - Imogene Mildred Wells 1930-1995 nickname "Gene". They were the parents of 2 sons:

(1) Robert Coffman
(2) Steve Coffman

Harlan Benjamin Coffman passed away at the very young age of 49 years old. The cause of his death was (1) Acute Coronary Occlusion (2) Athrosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease. He also had Carcinoma of Lung (broncho genic) however, this contributed to his death but was not the cause of his death. Bronchogenic carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of the lung arising from the epithelium of the bronchus or bronchiole. Harlan was divorced at the time of his death and is buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery at the Garden of Faith plot 101 in Greenwood, Johnson, Indiana.

Bio and research entered by hand not gedcom, by Great Niece, Carole Anne Brown-44556 Whittemore on 14 July 2016.

SOURCES:

A special Thank You to "Helper" for transferring this memorial to me! Bless You!

Indiana, Birth Certificates, 1907-1940
BORN: APRIL 26, 1926 (NOT May) Name: Harlan B. Benjamin Coffman Gender: Male Birth: 26 Apr 1926 Birth Place: Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA Registration Year: 1926 Father: Edward Coffman Mother: Maggie Blankenship Certificate Number: 19181 Roll Number: 008 Agency: Indiana State Dept. of Health Volume Range: 36 - 40 Born at Robert Long Hospital 4:45 AM

1930 Census
Place: Hamblen Brown IN Roll 574 Pg: 3A EnumeraDist:1 Img:427.0 **COFFMAN: Ed 52 Mary M 46 Margaret 16 Albert 17 Jasper F 13 Kathern 9 Harland 3 11/12 Mildred 1 11/12. Add: 56 Gold Point Rd Ed can read/write

1935 CENSUS is included with the 1940 CENSUS:
Everyone would be 5 yrs younger. 1940 Census Place: Montgomery Jennings Indiana Roll:T627_1058 Page:5B Enumeration District: 40-12 **COFFMAN: Ed 58 Maggie 52 Harlan 8 Mildred 6
1940 Census
Place: Montgomery Jennings Indiana Roll:T627_1058 Page:5B Enumeration District: 40-12 **COFFMAN: Ed 63 Maggie 57 Harlan 13 Mildred 11 1935 CENSUS is included

Military - US Dept of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File1850-2010
Name: Harlan Coffman Birth: 26 Apr 1926 Death: 22 Jul 1975 SSN: 304227675 Branch 1: ARMY Enlist1: 1 May 1944 Release1: 5 Feb 1946

U.S. NAVY - Seaman 2nd Class
1944 Camp Elliott, California, USA Harlan Coffman served in Okinawa SI US NAVY WORLD WAR II
Battle of Okinawa - Operations Iceberg
Mar 1944-Jun 1945 Okinawa, Okinawa, JAPAN The Battle of Okinawa was fought on Ryukyu Island, Okinawa. It was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific War of World War II. An 82 day battle from Mar 1944 to Jun 1945

US NAVY - Military Release Date 1
5 Feb 1946 US Dept of Veterans Affairs BIRLS Death File 1850-2010 Name: Harlan Coffman Birth Date: 26 Apr 1926 Death Date: 22 Jul 1975 SSN: 304227675 Branch 1: ARMY Enlistment Date 1: 1 May 1944 Release Date 1:5 Feb 1946 ?? WHY????does it say ARMY when he was NAVY

CAUSE OF DEATH per Death Certificate
22 Jul 1975 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA Harlan Coffman age 49 (1) Acute Coronary Occlusion (2) Athrosclerotic Coronary Artery Disease (3) Carcinoma of Lung (bronchogenic). Bronchogenic carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of the lung arising from the epithelium of the bronchus or bronchiole. Doctor: G.E. Widdifield (Uncle of Great Niece - Maternal side, Carole Anne Brown Whittemore

IN Death Certificate Local#4505 State# 75-028656
22 Jul 1975 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, USA Name: Harlan B Coffman Gender: Male Race: Wh Age: 49 Birth: 26 May 1926 BPL: IN Death: 22 Jul1975 Indpls IN Marital Status: Divorced Father: Edward Coffman Mother: Mary Maggie Blankenship Burial: 25July1975 Forest Lawn Cemetery Greenwood IN

SOCIAL SECURITY DEATH INDEX:
Name: Harlan Coffman SSN: 304-22-7675 Last Residence: 46241 Indianapolis, Marion, Indiana, United States of America Born: 26 Apr 1923 Died: Jul 1975 State (Year) SSN issued: Indiana (Before 1951)

Burial & Findagrave Memorial # 95287604
July 22, 1975 Greenwood, Johnson, Indiana, USA Inscription: SI US NAVY WORLD WAR II Burial: Forest Lawn Memory Gardens Greenwood Johnson County Indiana, USA Plot: Garden of Faith plot 101 Created by: Helper Record added: Aug 13, 2012

Ancestry.com
The Coffman-Ellis-Vaught Tree by CaroleAnne269 on Ancestry.com

The Blankenship-Statom/Statham Tree by CaroleAnne269 on Ancestry.com