DEXTER C. COLEMAN III
Died March 9, 2009
Dr. Dexter Caswell Coleman III, 65, of Warsaw, passed away Monday at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held Friday at 1 p.m. at Warsaw Baptist Church in Warsaw with the Rev. Michael Herring officiating. The family will see friends after the service in the church fellowship hall.
Dr. Coleman was the son of Dexter C. Coleman Jr. and Grace Priest Coleman.
He was born in Riverside, Calif., where his father served in the U.S. Army during World War II.
He was raised in Elizabethtown where he graduated from high school and received the badge of honor as an Eagle Scout. Moving to Wilmington as a young adult, Dexter was employed by WR Grace for 29 years and attended UNCW while working to raise his family. He graduated with honors with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Chemistry and received the John T. Hoggard award for academic excellence.
In 1988, at the age of 44, he entered dental school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He graduated with a Doctor of Dental Surgery in 1992, and was offered admittance to medical school. Following the desires of his heart to work as a dentist in a small town in Eastern North Carolina where he could serve his fellow man, he entered into the dental practice with Dr. William Stoppelbein in Warsaw. In 2001, the practice welcomed the addition of Dr. Chris Hardison.
For the past 17 years, Dexter had enjoyed practicing dentistry with his loving staff, "his girls." His generous nature has afforded comfort to many people in this community. One of the greatest loves of his life was his airplane, N3665W. He purchased this in 1995, with a friend and spent many hours in the air.
Dr. Coleman was loved by everyone who knew him. His fun loving spirit was evidenced by his love for wearing brightly colored Hawaiian shirts. One could always tell when he was near by the jingle of the coins in his pocket. He was a member of the Board of Directors of Southern Bank in Warsaw.
Dr. Coleman is survived by his wife of 44 years, Mary Katherine Chesser Coleman of the home; a daughter, Angela Leigh Coleman of Greenville, S.C.; a son, Charles "Chuck" Coleman of Lake Waccamaw; a brother, Kenneth Lee Coleman and wife, Catherine, of Roseboro; and four grandchildren, Monica Brooke Blanton, Coleman Luis Fresquez, Gabriella Marie Fresquez and Ella Bess Coleman.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dr. Dexter C. Coleman Scholarship Fund, in care of Southern Bank, P.O. Box 896, Warsaw, N.C., 28398 or The Emory Elizabeth Knox Fund at New Hanover Medical Center, Wilmington, N.C.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.wilmingtonburialandcremation.com.
Arrangements are being handled by Wilmington Burial and Cremation Service.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 11, 2009 1:47 PM