Paul Coleman was a music educator who taught in schools in the Orient and in the Pacific Northwest. He was born on a small farm in McMinnville, Oregon. Both he and his sister, Lois, showed promise in music and began study at an early age. In both instances, their music education was interrupted by the Great Depression.

Paul began playing trumpet when he was 8 years old, teaching himself on a hard-blowing cornet from Austria that his father had given him. A year after graduating from McMinnville High School in 1934, Paul left home to attend Walla Walla College, now Universiy, with $18 in his pocket, a few clothes, and his cornet. Although he had not taken lessons until well into his teens, he was talented and had become proficient enough as a musician to play in WWC ensembles and the Walla Walla Symphony, as well as sing in the college male quartet.

Victor Johnson, WWC college band and orchestra director who also had a music instrument store, took an interest in Coleman and loaned him a trumpet, an improvement over the cornet, but a poor sounding instrument. During a subsequent summer, he found work in a cannery and was able to set aside $50 for the purchase of a better instrument.

From 1939 to 1940, Coleman ran a bakery route in Portland and then married Lois Anne Smith. He returned to WWC in 1941 and then worked from 1942 to 1944 at the Naval Ship Repair facility in Bremerton, Washington. He taught at Mt. Ellis Academy for a year before returning to WWC, where he completed a B.S. in Biology at WWC in 1946.

For the next seven years, he taught in Singapore before returning to the States in 1953 for a music teaching position at Auburn Academy, near Seattle, Washington. Although now 36, he decided to take lessons during this time on the flute and clarinet, and studied with the principal chairs in the Seattle Symphony.

After seven years at AA, Coleman took a position at Portland Union Academy, now Portland Adventist Academy, so that he could help a member of the family who was having difficulty at that time. A year later he traveled to Indonesia where he oversaw the construction of the Djakarta Evangelistic Center Adventist center in that country. After three and a half years there, he returned to the States with his family when political problems placed them in danger.

From 1965 to 1970 he taught music at Laurelwood Academy, located near Portland, Oregon. During that time he organized a woodwind ensemble using his four sons, whom he had taught to play clarinet, as its nucleus. The ensemble became widely known throughout the Northwest for both its facility and musicianship. During this time they released Themes in Wood, a highly successful and popular record.

All four of his sons would eventually play in the Walla Walla Symphony, as their father had when he was a college student. His twin sons, Donald and Ronald, played in the orchestra as teenagers in the 1970s, and then again in the early 2000s. Seven members of the Coleman family, including Paul's sister Lois and her daughter, Janice, played in the Walla Walla Symphony, the largest number of musicians from one family to play in that ensemble in its first hundred years. Ronald presently serves as an adjunct instructor in clarinet at WWC.

ds 2009

Written by the Coleman boys and his sister, Lois Hall

Paul Coleman was born near Newberg, Oregon, on February 19, 1917 to Minnie Iverson-Coleman and William (‘Will’) Madison Coleman.  Will was a dairy farmer and teacher. Minnie was a former teacher and housewife.  When he was six years old his sister, Lois, was born.

In the early 1920s the Coleman’s purchased a wheat farm of about 35 Acres near McMinnville, Oregon.  There were no buildings on the land, so Will built a chicken house and shop which became their temporary home.  Next he built a 3-story barn to house the 2 cows and horses they purchased.  They planted fruit and nut trees and a large garden.  Will taught at the country school - so Paul's first teacher was his father. (Paul used to ride his horse to school several miles away). In between doing chores and teaching, Will built a three-bedroom house (which is still occupied today).  They moved in before it was finished, but it was a great improvement over the chicken house.  Paul loved living in the country, climbing the huge oak trees, riding the horse, fishing, and swimming in the creek.  He wasn't so fond of weeding garden and tending chickens.

The difficult depression years were spent on this farm. The family survived by canning food that they grew in a garden. They also canned the meat from one cow that they slaughtered each year. The milk and eggs that they did not need were sold for cash. With careful planning there was just enough money to buy one set of new clothes and shoes for each family member each year. For Paul this was just one new pair of coveralls and one pair of shoes each year.

When Paul was about 15 he saw his dad's cornet and tried to play it.  His mother had tried to teach him piano, but he wanted to play a horn.  He taught himself to play the old antique instrument, which was very hard to blow.  When he was 16 he was invited to join the city band, led by the town's justice of the peace.  He was introduced to Sousa marches and other military band music.  He was even paid to march in the Fourth of July parade. That fall he brought home an Alto horn and taught his sister to play it. She was very thrilled and became the youngest member of the band.

It was about this time that Paul’s father purchased their first automobile, a Ford Model ‘T’. It was also about this time that Paul saw his first airplane, a ‘barnstormer’ stunt flier that came to the McMinnville airport to put on a show and sell rides.

Paul was baptized in a creek near the McMinnville Seventh Day Adventist Church. He attended McMinnville High School, where he graduated in 1934. He yearned to attend a Christian school where he could participate in social activities outside of the Sabbath hours. (The public schools held all of their social activities and football games on Friday nights and Sabbaths.) He was visited by a teacher from WWC who urged him to go to Walla Walla College.  His father wanted him to stay home, help him on the farm and attend Linfield College. But Paul was tired of having to choose between having a good time and listening to his conscience. At the age of 18 he made the tough decision to leave home and make his own way. (It was to be 70 long years before he returned to visit that house again.)

Paul arrived at the train station in Walla Walla (the building still exists on 2^nd Avenue) in 1935 with an old metal suitcase, ten dollars and his horn.  He needed a job badly.  When he arrived at WWC he saw a crew pouring concrete and asked the supervisor for a job. He was hired on the spot and helped pour the original sidewalk in front of the administration building. He then registered for school, initially as a teaching major.

Paul scrimped and saved and by the second quarter, he was able to buy a trumpet.  This became his joy because it was easy to blow. He made good progress and was soon playing in the band and orchestra. It wasn't long before he found another trumpet player and a trombonist and formed a trio.  Many of their pieces were arranged by his sister, Lois. He also sang in the men’s quartet with Eugene Winters, Ken Fleck, and Ralph Whitehouse.

In 1937 the band went on a "booster trip" and played a concert at Columbia Academy.  He met his future wife briefly as he was hurrying to get in place for the performance. Her name was Lois Annie Smith.  He barely noticed her. But Annie and her friend noticed him. Annie’s friend told her that when she got to WWC she was going to ‘set her hat’ for him. Annie jokingly said, "Tough luck. I’m going to be there a year before you are!"

In 1938 Annie attended WWC. She and Paul ended up in the same science class together, she as a pre-med student and he as a biology major.  Annie often wore a small Scottie dog pin and Paul dubbed her ‘Scottie’. (It was a name that was to stick for the rest of her life).

Paul had been dating a girl named Margie and he used to take his trumpet over to the dorm and from under her window played "Margie, I'm always dreaming of you, Margie."  A friend of Paul’s created quite a stir one night when he stood under Annie’s window and played "I Must See Annie Tonight!"  Lois had always teased Paul about his girl friends and he took it good naturedly, but when she teased him about Annie, he got mad and Lois got worried. "This is serious" she thought to herself.  Before the school year was over, Paul and Annie were engaged. 

Like many others in those days Paul had a problem. He owed the college money and didn't have enough income to support a wife.  There were no such things as school loans. He decided to stay out a year and work. Annie's parents invited him to live at their house.  His future father-in-law loaned him the money to purchase a bakery route and a delivery van. (Annie later revealed that her father had said to her, "The best way to get to know a man is to wash his clothes and see how long he can hold a job".)

Paul excelled in sales, paid back the loan, and saved money. He apparently earned the approval of Annie’s parents, for he and Annie were married on August 29, 1940 at Annie's parent’s home in Portland, across the street from the old Portland Sanitarium.  Elder J. L. Tucker of the Quiet Hour married them. His sister Lois was the maid of honor.  They were to use a cabin of a relative for a honeymoon.  When they arrived at the cabin in the woods, they found that a friend had nailed a substantial barricade down the middle of the bed. Paul put his carpenter skills to work and quickly solved that problem! 

Paul and Annie’s first home was in College Place and was a basement made into a home.  (They called it the "Honey House.", as it had been used previously by a bee-keeper.) By this time Paul changed his major to Biology and Annie was taking several classes and working as the secretary of the Business Manager. They didn't have much money, but they were very happy. 

In 1941 Paul’s sister, Lois, also ran out of money and had to stay out of school to work.  So Paul and Annie invited Lois to live with them the last two quarters of the year to help save money. Lois was just the first of many that Paul and Annie would open up their home to and help over the years.

Everything changed on December 7, 1941. The student body was called to a meeting at the old Columbia Auditorium and told of the attack on Pearl Harbor and the declaration of war.

Paul and Annie moved to Bremerton the next summer where Paul worked in the Naval Shipyard. They shared an uncompleted house purchased by their friends, George and Margaret Armstrong.  Paul and George worked the night shift, came home and slept for a few hours, then spent the rest of their day building a house – mostly with scrap wood. They also dug a well by hand. They survived harsh winters and the difficult war years in this house, then sold it after the war and shared the profit of their work.

Paul and Annie’s first son, Richard, was born January 2, 1942.

In 1944-45, while still a student at WWC, Paul and Annie accepted a call to teach at Mt. Ellis Academy. Paul worked as the assistant farm manager, worked in maintenance, as well as teaching science classes and band. (Somehow he had figured out how to conduct music too!) Annie taught piano, typing, and shorthand.  She also played drum in the band. Imagine their disappointment when, returning from a band trip, they found that their house had caught fire and burned to the ground. They lost virtually everything they owned and spent the remainder of the year living in the girls’ dormitory.

About this time Paul and Annie were asked to consider a call to go to Singapore as missionaries for a six-year term. Paul returned to WWC and finished his degree in 1946, then accepted the call to mission service. Before leaving for Singapore he and Annie were required to attend classes to learn ‘Bahasa’, the local Malayan language used in Singapore.

Leaving was difficult as Annie was an only child and Paul's mother was dying of breast cancer.  The only way to communicate in those days was by mail. A letter could take weeks to be delivered to or from a foreign country. Leaving home under these circumstances was extremely difficult. Paul knew he would not see his mother again until the resurrection.

After enduring a harrowing, stormy crossing of the Pacific they arrived in Japan, where they were driven from Tokyo to Yokohama. Paul’s recollection of that drive was vivid years later. Due to the recent fire bombings of Tokyo, the only things they saw standing for the entire 40-mile drive were a few smoke stacks.

Paul and Annie arrived in Singapore in 1946, soon after the end of World War II. The Japanese occupiers had burned all the furniture in the hospital, using it for firewood. Paul’s first job was to build all new furniture for the hospital – beds, chairs, and desks. He was given an empty field. With the help of local workmen he built a shop and, using equipment he had purchased and brought on the ship, began building furniture. Once the hospital and school had all the furniture that was needed Paul continued to run the shop. Taking on commercial jobs in Singapore, he was able to turn the shop into a profit center for the mission.

Most of the workers Paul hired were not Christians, and he had a burden to lead them to Christ. So he came up with a plan. He told them that they could either continue to come to work at the same time and earn a full day’s pay. Or they could come 30 minutes early and attend a class. If they came early they would be paid the extra 30 minutes. Most attended his Bible class, and several were baptized. At least one of these gentlemen, still living in Singapore, has stayed in touch with Paul through all the intervening years.

As with all missionaries, Paul and Annie ended up doing ‘a little of everything’ to help out. On one mission trip they made into the jungles of Borneo Paul ended up sleeping in a Long House (a house only for men and which was decorated all around the ceiling with human skulls taken by headhunters). Annie often told a story later of being fed soup with chicken’s feet in it. She quietly snuck the chicken’s feet to the dogs, as she could not stomach them with mud still showing under the claws!

In 1952 Donald and Ronald were born at the Youngberg Memorial Hospital in Singapore. (Don and Ron currently live in College Place with their wives, Debbie and Cheryl. The twins both work for Continental Airlines).

In 1953 the Coleman family left Singapore and moved to Paul’s new job – teaching music at Auburn Academy.

While teaching at Auburn Academy Paul obtained his Master’s Degree from the University of Washington in Seattle. He also took formal music conducting lessons from a professional in Seattle during this time.

Paul also taught himself about bee keeping. For years he kept several hives of bees and sold honey (under the label "The Three Bears"). He and Annie would harvest the honey themselves, extract it, and package it.

In 1954 Lewis was born at the Portland Sanitarium. (Lewis and his wife, Cheryl, live near Portland, where he works as a Paramedic for American Medical Response).

About this time, unable to play the trumpet any longer due to problems with his teeth, Paul learned to play the flute (studying under the principal flute player for the Seattle Symphony). He and Annie taught all of their sons their love for music, and Paul taught each of them to play the clarinet.

In 1960 Paul and Annie moved to the Portland area to assist Annie’s mother, Catherine (‘Cassie’) after the death of Annie’s father. Paul accepted a position teaching music at Portland Union Academy.

Paul also learned Morse code and obtained his ham radio operator’s license. This was a skill that he was able to put to practical use in the years before telephones and internet became commonplace.

In 1961 Paul and Annie again accepted a call to go to Indonesia where Paul supervised the construction of the Djakarta Evangelistic Center, a five story building which included an auditorium for meetings on the main level. Serving as missionaries requires sacrifices – both personal and financial. One of the disappointments Paul and Annie had to endure during this time was missing their oldest son’s wedding in Portland. Richard and Jean Gingrich were married during Richard’s junior year at WWC. (Richard was a theology major at WWC).

By 1965 the political situation had become very unstable in Indonesia, and the Coleman family moved once again, this time to Laurelwood Academy, where Paul again resumed teaching music.

February 5, 1966 the Coleman’s oldest son Richard, along with his wife Jean, visited Paul, Annie, and the boys at Laurelwood Academy. Richard, who was now a licensed pilot, had flown down with friends to attend a program of the Vienna Choir Boys at Portland Adventist Academy on Saturday night.  At about 4 AM Sunday morning Paul and Annie’s phone rang. It was the FAA, informing them that their son’s airplane had taken off from Troutdale, Oregon, late Saturday night and had never reached Walla Walla. After several weeks of searching, the rescue efforts were called off. The airplane was eventually found in June of 1967, on Larch Mountain, just a few miles from the point of departure. Richard, Jean, and their good friends, Joe & Cheryl Jensen had all perished. In spite of enduring months of uncertainty, ending in severe disappointment, Paul and Annie’s faith in God remained firm. This experience was, no doubt, one of the bitterest of their lives.

Paul had also learned how to work with metals. And he learned to repair his own cars, rarely taking them to a shop for anything. Paul used his own car as a ‘guinea pig’ to teach his boys how to remove the engine from a car, disassemble it, reassemble it, put it back in the car and get it running again. Somehow, Paul had taught himself to be a ‘jack of all trades’ – and he spent many hours over the years patiently trying to pass on what he had learned to each of his sons.

In 1970 Paul accepted a position as Assistant Plant Service Manager at Walla Walla College, where he worked with one of his best friends, Lester Border, until officially retiring in 1978.

Paul and Annie then moved to the farm that her parents had purchased in 1940.  Paul and Annie purchased part of the old college industrial arts building when it was being demolished.  They disassembled the sections of the building, piece by piece, and salvaged the building materials. They then took two semi truckloads of these materials to the family farm near Portland, where – once again proving his resourcefulness, Paul designed and built a shop and garage using the ‘scrap’ material.

Drawing on the many skills he had developed using metals and wood, Paul started a small business, "Custom Fabricators".

Paul and Annie (along with his sister, Lois, who they invited to live on the farm) enjoyed the farm life, raising a large garden each year in addition to tending to fruit trees and a vineyard. They also grew Noble Firs to sell as Christmas trees each year.

Paul also added on to the farmhouse and built Annie a new kitchen. They did not have the money to buy nice cabinets so – demonstrating his resourcefulness and patience; he set to work to make them. He cut down wild cherry trees growing on the farm, found a business willing to cut them into boards for free (in exchange for letting them take pictures of their equipment on his property to be used for advertising brochures), cured the lumber, and built beautiful sold wood cherry cabinets for the entire kitchen. This project took him a couple of years.

Both Paul and Annie remained active in church work after ‘retirement’, first as members of the Gresham Seventh Day Adventist Church, and then the Sunnyside Church. They spent many hours in church board meetings, served as an Elder and Deaconess, and helped with many volunteer fundraisers and other church activities.

Overcoming what must have been a deep fear of flying after losing his oldest son in a plane crash, Paul decided to learn to fly. He earned his Private Pilot’s license after he retired and remained current and qualified as a pilot for many years – a ‘hobby’ that Annie, understandably, never learned to enjoy.

Paul never shied away from learning – even in his later years. He learned to use a computer when he was in his 80s.

Retirement didn't kill Paul and Annie’s love for the mission field. During the late 1980s they again accepted mission calls – to serve as SOS (volunteer) missionaries in both Taiwan and Hong Kong. In Taiwan Paul worked with the local staff at the Taipei Adventist Hospital to correct problems with the heating and air conditioning system as well as setting up an effective maintenance program at the hospital. Annie worked in the office and taught English classes. In Hong Kong Paul supervised the complete renovation of the Tsuen Wan Adventist Hospital - floor by floor while the hospital remained open and in use. Annie became involved with Adventist World Radio and became the recording voice for many English stories that were later broadcast.

Paul had always enjoyed tennis. And he did not let his retirement slow him down. He played well until he was in his mid eighties, winning trophies at the local tennis club where he was a member, often at the expense of opponents who were 50 or more years his junior! In fact, at the age of 88 Paul traveled to Guam and celebrated his birthday by playing tennis with his sons.

In 1998 Paul experienced another tremendous disappointment. Annie, his wife of 58 years, suffered a stroke and remained bedridden for five years before she passed away. Though he spent the remainder of his life dealing with loneliness he rarely complained. His deep, abiding faith in God never wavered. He often consoled himself with his music. And he had a deep yearning to share God’s love and plan of salvation with anyone who would listen.

Paul remained active with his musical talent until his late 80s. He particularly loved the brass instruments. He had purchased a euphonium and learned to play it in his 70s. He organized a quintet, ‘Patriarchal Brass’, and performed with the group many times until just a few years ago.

At the age of 89, unable to drive safely any longer and in declining health, Paul move from his farm near Portland to the Wheatland Retirement Center in Walla Walla. He continued to be involved in music, attending many concerts up until just a few weeks before his death. He loved to play chess in his later years, and learned to play quite well. He also continued to garden, raising his last garden in the summer of 2008.

Those of you who knew Paul well will no doubt agree that the following are just some of his greatest attributes: He was honest, God fearing, loved his family deeply, cared very much about others, was patient, and frugal.

To Lois he was a brother. To Don, Ron, and Lewie he was ‘dad’. To thirteen others he was ‘Grampa’ or ‘great-Grampa’ Paul. To many others he was simply ‘Uncle Paul’. To many more, he was a Teacher. And for so many more, a Friend who cared.

Until the resurrection, he will be deeply missed.

Lived Life Fully

"Wow, your dad had a long and good life, setting many great examples for the rest of us along the way. I have so much respect for him, and I'm very sad to see him go."

"Dad Coleman" as with all you guys, have meant a LOT to me over the years.  You all have been there for me as "Family".  For me (and I'm sure scores of others), he has left behind a legacy that nothing in this world could ever buy.  That of unconditional Love that has forever touched my heart and soul in a very special way. He will be missed for now, but I will be looking forwards to playing music with him in the new heaven!

He was a great man and it was an honor to have been able to spend time with him.

I've many fond memories of him - beginning when he was one of my grade-school music teachers at Portland Union Elementary School in the sixties. Hope to see him in Glory Land. May that be soon.

He was a great man and taught us all so many things. He lead a life of example and was someone who gave us strength and encouragement. The sparkle in his eye is what I remember! He was always excited about figuring things out. A champion for all of us.

Your father always seemed to be upbeat and genuinely enjoyed attending the various musical events. I really appreciated your father's kind and encouraging words . . .

I put an announcement of his passing on my Facebook page and I've gotten a few comments about him, and how much he taught people, not only about music, but about life………. But, what I see most is him standing in front of us in ensemble, and never really raising his voice when we were horsing around!  The passion he had for the music.

I appreciated your dad greatly…….You are fortunate to have had a father that you could be proud of, for it is becoming more rare.  

I always liked your father and felt I learned a lot from him. I did not know some of the things you have now told about his life, but they only result in even more respect and admiration. We mourn his passing. Fortunately, in the blink of an eye to him, he will arise, I am sure, to a new body and many of his old friends and family! What a great day of rejoicing that will be. I am looking forward to that day. I may even get to play tennis with him!

HE WAS ONE OF OUR FAVORITE PERSONS.   HE WAS SUCH A WONDERFUL MAN.   WELL I COULD GO ON ABOUT YOUR FATHER BUT HE WILL CERTAINLY BE IN HEAVEN.  WHAT A MARVELOUS EXAMPLE HE SET FOR YOU BOYS.  NOT JUST TO TELL YOU, BUT TO SHOW YOU THE RIGHT WAY.  

We remember him well... as a very special person.  He was always very kind, and willing to take time to visit. He had a pleasantness about him that we appreciated. I know you probably have wonderful memories of him as a dad. I'm thankful for our hope in the Lord.  It is not the end. Our existence here is but a dot compared to eternity.  May God strengthen you in this hope at this time.  

I have such great memories from my years in and out of your house as kids, playing tennis with your dad, etc. Your dad used to make me so made (at myself entirely) because he was such a steady player. Never flashy, never hit hard, but he covered the court extremely well and he ALWAYS got the ball back. So of course I'd just work myself into a dither, over-hit, and your dad would always win! He had a truly admirable life and lives very, very well in my memories. I'm sorry for your loss, and know there's a space now in the place your dad has filled in your lives for so many years. May it be filled with love and good memories.

I am saddened to hear this news because both of your folks were so precious to those of us who had the opportunity of being at Auburn while you all were there.

Your parents were very wonderful people and served the Lord in so many different ways. We treasure having you and your family as our personal friends.  

What a beautiful legacy he has left.  No doubt you have met some of  the 1000's of people whom Paul has directly impacted for the gospel.  In heaven, we will meet them all. Anne and Paul were so kind to me. I have beautiful memories of them.  God, in His sovereignty, brought our lives together, if for a short time.  I am so thankful.

Your Dad was an inspiration to so many young people.  God used him in a wonderful way with his gifts and talents of excellent music.  We can look forward to hear him playing again in the Royal Court of Heaven.

I was saddened to hear of your dad's passing away, he will be greatly missed. I have lots good memories of Laurelwood days and after."

As you know, your father was very special to me. Your parents were very kind and generous with me when it meant the most. While I never was really bothered by leaving home when I went to Auburn, it was certainly a comfort finding acceptance in your home. He certainly represents the end of an era in my life.

Your Dad was so versatile in many, many ways.  Most us did not know the many ways that he blessed his family and friends. He was a person that I highly respected through the years.

Sorry to hear of your dad's passing. He will be missed. Like many others, I am glad I knew him."

I can't think of a person in my life who epitomizes vibrancy of life and was more engaged in life than your Dad. His ability to continually look at the world through the eyes of humor and common sense was a model for me growing up and a continuing source of fun. He seemed to me to be the fountain of energy. He always had a funny story or tidbit of information to impart to those around him. He also was such a great example of someone who was able and more than willing to be of service with any manner of work that needed to be done.

I thought alot of your dad and admired him very much.  He was a very interesting, intelligent and inspirational man.  He will be missed.

Paul Coleman was one of my favorite teachers at Auburn. He was a very pleasant person. I also enjoyed the way he took all our pictures and your mother tinted them if we wanted to order them tinted. They both always seemed to be smiling and happy.

I learned of your father's passing from Richard Dower and was sad to hear that he had passed away. I must tell you that I am a SDA today because of the loving kindness of your father and mother.  I attended Auburn Adventist Academy in the late 50s, graduating in 1960.  My parents were not Adventists and I ended up at Auburn because of my mother's concerns.  I had a cousin attending the academy and my mother thought I might like to join him, which I did. Your father invited me to join the band. 

I was too poor to buy my own instrument, so he made arrangements to provide me with one.  By my sophomore year, he was giving me voice lessons and I ended up joining the choir as well.  At Auburn, I gave my heart to the Lord and was baptized.  I went on to attend Walla Walla College.  I was invited to join the WWC Chorale as a result of your father's letter to the choir director.  Unfortunately I will not be able to attend his memorial service. He has always been an inspiration to me. Your father loved the Lord, people and music. He is missed but is in good hands.

Your mom & dad were truly some of our favorite people in life... so down to earth. They were so dedicated & available to help in any way they could in life. They truly loved God & their fellowman. Their hospitality & friendship helped me survive the bruises of pastoring.