Willard Coldiron

COLUMBUS, OH - Willard Bruce Coldiron of Columbus, Ohio passed peacefully into rest on Saturday, December 8th after fighting a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's Disease and a recent cancer diagnosis. He was born on December 10, 1938 in Matoaka, West Virginia and would have celebrated his 74th birthday this coming week. Bruce held dear his loving family. He cherished his beloved wife, Joyce Grogan Coldiron, of 52 years and his three sons: Bruce Coldiron II and wife Ellen, Blane Coldiron, and Shawn Coldiron. Bruce adored his three grandsons, Hunter, George and Brystin, as well as his very special granddaughter, Jordan Alexandria Coldiron. He also leaves behind his loyal and devoted Golden Retriever, Dolly. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Blanche Nicholson and George Blaine Coldiron, and his precious stillborn grandson Keith Riley Coldiron. Bruce loved and honored his stepfather, Cyrus Leroy Nicholson, who raised him from an early age. Bruce was deeply respected and admired by his surviving brothers and sisters and their spouses: Karen and husband Richard Preservati, Lowell Nicholson, Gerald and wife Judy Nicholson, James and wife Linda Nicholson, Rita and husband Alan Dempsey, Barry and wife Diane Nicholson, and Sheri and husband Mark Repass. Bruce graduated from Virginia Tech in 1961 with a Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He had a very successful career with AEP for 41 years, where he was instrumental in bringing four of AEP's five 800-megawatt generating units on line. He also worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Co, helping design the engines for the Boeing 727 and the Saturn V rocket, which was used in NASA's historic Apollo launches. Bruce and Joyce were members of the Dublin Baptist Church. He was an avid golfer, enjoyed vacationing with family, watching his favorite sports and collecting guitars. The memory of his smile and his determination to battle his Parkinson's Disease remains with each of us. Funeral services will be conducted at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, December 12, 2012 at the Rowland H. Bailey Funeral Chapel of the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton with Rev. Dan Jividen officiating. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Gardens in Princeton. The family will receive friends Wednesday, December 12, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. until service hour at the Bailey-Kirk Funeral Home in Princeton. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.bailey-kirk.com. Click here to view a video tribute to Mr. Coldiron

Tributes

Willard Coldiron

December 8, 2012