Eldon Franklin Coffman Sr.

Eldon Franklin Coffman Sr., 82, of Fort Smith, died Monday, November 29, 2010, at St. Edward Mercy Medical Center. He was born December 18, 1927, in Russellville, son of Eulan and Edith Coffman. He was retired, having served most recently (1996-2003) as Chairman of the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission (AWCC). Mr. Coffman received his undergraduate degree from Arkansas Tech University, and his Juris Doctor from Arkansas Law School. Before the AWCC, he had been with the Daily, West, Core, Coffman & Canfield law firm in Fort Smith since 1966, becoming a junior partner in 1968 and a full partner in 1970. He was given the highest rating attainable by Martindale-Hubbell Law Dictionary. His reputation as a trial attorney was recognized by Congressmen John Paul Hammerschmidt and Ed Bethune when they submitted his name to President Ronald Reagan for federal judge in the Western District of Arkansas in 1981 and 1984. He was appointed Arkansas Supreme Court Special Justice by Gov. Frank White; appointed to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission by then Lt. Gov. Mike Huckabee; and appointed Arkansas Supreme Court Special Chief Justice by Gov. Huckabee. Mr. Coffman's service to his community includes past chairmanships of the Sebastian County Red Cross and March of Dimes (Arkansas Valley Chapter), as well as past memberships of the Western Arkansas Health Planning Council, Financial Advisory Committee to the City of Fort Smith, and American Legion (Ellig Stoufer Post). He was a veteran of the United States Army, was a trustee at Eastside Baptist Church, and was a Partner in Education to the Fort Smith Public Schools Adult Education Center. Mr. Coffman was preceded in death by his parents, Eulan and Edith; two siblings, Ovaline McEntire and Gordon Coffman; and a son, David Coffman. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; a daughter, Debbie Richard and her husband David of Springdale; a son, Douglas Coffman of Fort Smith; a son, Eldon F. Coffman Jr. and his wife Sara of Knoxville, Tenn.; a daughter, Ann Louise Cole and her husband Steven Cole of Springdale; five grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. Memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Thursday at Eastside Baptist Church, with interment at Woodlawn Memorial Park. The family will greet guests at the church following the service. All arrangements are under the direction of Edwards Funeral Home. Pallbearers will be Steven Cole, Don Manlove, Terry Lee Manlove, Jared Schrodt, Ron Schrodt, and Mike Taylor. Memorials can be made to any of the following: Alzheimer's Arkansas (501-224-0021, http://www.alzark.org/help/donate.html); Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute Foundation, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (501-526-2277, http://cancer.uams.edu/Foundation/); Eastside Baptist Church (project: Student Outreach Center; 479-452-1481, http://www.eastsidebc.org/) Online condolences may be sent to www.edwardsfuneralhome.com.