COFFING, John Dayton - Fountain County INGenWeb Project

John Dayton (J.D.) Coffing, age 77, co-founder of Coffing Brothers Orchards located south of Covington died at 10:45 a.m. Saturday Oct 31 at his home in Kingman Rt 2. Death was attributed to heart ailment. He and his brother, Homer, now of Clearwater, FL started the orchards in 1908 and he had been the manager for several years. He received the Cal Hampton award for soil conservation in Fountain County in 1962 and he was a life member of the Indiana Horticultural Society. Mr. Coffing was a life resident of Fountain County. He was born April 9, 1887, east of Covington son of James M. and Marinda Zeigler Coffing. He was married April 8, 1911 to the former Miss Hope Cook, and she preceded him in deathSept 17, 1959. On May 1, 1960 he married Mrs. Virgie Abernathy who survives. He was a member of West Liberty Church of Christ. Surviving in addition to his wife are three daughters: Mrs. Robert (Lois) Cissel, Mrs. Doris Hensley, both of Danville, ILL and Mrs. Maxine Abernathy of Rt 1 Covington; 3 sons, Joe H; Robert W. and John M. Coffing of Covington Rts; 5 stepchildren, Mrs. Ereel St. George of Indianapolis; Mrs. Cleta Ware of Covington Rt 2; Mrs. Connie Lewis of San Francisco, Calif; Verley Abernathy of Brazil and Quentin Abernathy of Covington Rt 3. Also, two sisters Mrs. Ora H. Brewer and Mrs. Mary Lou Bonebrake, both of Veedersburg Rt 3; one brother, Home; 17 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one brother, one sister and two infant sons. Funeral services wre held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bodine & Shelby Funeral Home, Covington. The Rev. Thomas Stapp and the Rev. Ed Zimmerman officiated and burial was in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers were: Greg Coffing; Roger Coffing; Ronnie Abernathy; JP Hensley; Fred Paxton and Robert Wadsworth.

Covington - John Dayton (J.D.) Coffing, 77, died at his home at Rt. 2 Kingman Saturday at 10:45 a.m. of a heart attack. Mr. Coffing was born east of Covington in Fountain County to John M. and Marinda Zeigler Coffing April 9, 1887. He was married to Hope Cook April 8, 1911. She died Sept. 17, 1959. he was married to Virgie Abernathy May 1, 1960. He is survived by his wife; three daughters, Mrs. Lois Cissel and Mrs. Doris Hensley, both of Danville, Ill., and Mrs. Maxine Abernathy of Rt. 1 Covington; three sons, Joe H., John M. and Robert W. Coffing, all of near Covington; five step-children, Mrs. Ercel St. George of Indianapolis, Verley Abernathy of Brazil, Mrs. Cleta Ware of Rt. 2 Covington, Mrs. Connie Lewis of San Francisco, Calif., and Quinten Abernathy of Rt. 3 Covington; one brother, Homer Coffing of Clearwater, Fla.; two sisters, Mrs. Orah Brewer and Mrs. Mary Lou Bonebrake, both of Rt. 3 Veedersburg; 17 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren. Mr. Coffing was a member of the West Liberty Church. A life resident of Fountain County, he and his brothers started the Coffing Bros. Orchard in 1908. Since then he had become sole owner and had been active in the management of it with his sons. He was a member of the Indiana Horticulture Society. In 1962 he received the Cal Hempton Award for soil conservation in Fountain County. Services will be Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Bodine & Shelby Funeral Home in Covington. Rev. Thomas Stapp and Rev. Ed Zimmerman will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Hope Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home.