Walter Joseph Francis Coleman, Sr., age 95, loving husband of Rhea Myers Coleman of Hamden, passed away at Connecticut Hospice on January 19, 2022. Born in New Haven on December 28, 1926, he was the son of the late George F. Coleman, Sr. and Alice Murray Coleman. He was predeceased by his brothers Thomas and George Coleman. Walt and Rae were married for over 73 years. Walt is survived by his loving children; Walt (Carolyn) Coleman, Jr. of Webster, FL, Rita (Glenn) Smith of Branford, Kathy (Lou) Ferraro of East Haven, and Patty (Jim) Belke of Silver Spring, MD. Walt is also loved by his 18 grandchildren, his 26 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Walt was a proud U.S. Navy WWII veteran. He was an active member of his community, working as the Executive Vice President of the Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, as well as serving as a Business Manager for the State of CT Dept. of Education. Walt held memberships in the Manufacturers Association of New Haven County, the Hamden Knights of Columbus, and St. Stephen's Church in Hamden, where he served as a Lector.
Friends are invited to visit with Walt's family on Sunday, Jan. 23rd from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. at Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, 2300 Whitney Ave., Hamden and may attend his funeral on Monday, Jan. 24th from the funeral home at 9:15 for his Mass of Christian Burial, to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. in Divine Mercy Parish-St. Rita Church. Interment with Military Honors will follow in All Saints Cemetery, North Haven.