Warren Kenneth Coomer, 83, died at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 25, 2005 at Deaconess Hospital, in Evansville.

He was born June 29, 1921, the ninth child of William Virgil and Lula Bessie (Tooley) Coomer. 

He made a profession of faith at about 11 or 12 years of age. He became a General Baptist about 1945 and served in many capacities in the Flat Creek Association, including administrator of Flat Creek Campground, Home Mission Board, Camp Board and board of trustees. He also served on the National Nursing Home Board of General Baptists for 13 years. He was for many years a member of the First General Baptist Church, in Oakland City. 

He graduated from Oakland City High School in the class of 1938. He spent several years as a machine operator and inspector in factories. He served three years in the U.S. Army in World War II as an infantryman. He reported for duty on Dec. 12, 1942 and was discharged with the rank of Sgt. Major on Nov. 28, 1945. He was assigned to Company G, 2nd Battalion, 319th Regiment of the 80th Infantry Division. On Nov. 10, 1944 he was wounded by mortar and machine gun fire in France. He received a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. 

After the war, he attended Oakland City College, graduating in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science degree in education. He also graduated from Indiana State University, in Terre Haute, with a master's degree in mathematics. He taught for 30 years in the classroom and retired in 1982. 

He married Wanda Joyce Preston in 1941 and she preceded him in death in 1971. They had two sons, Leslie Conway Coomer and Mark Coomer. He married Marthalene (Purkiser) McCallister in 1975. 

He was a member of the East Gibson Classroom Teachers, Indiana State Teachers Association, National Education Association and the Indiana Retired Teachers Association. He was also a life member of the Disabled American Veterans, the American Legion and the 80th Division Veterans Association. 

He is survived by his wife, Marthalene; two sons, Leslie Conway Coomer, 57, of Willow Branch and Mark Coomer, 51, of Evansville; a stepdaughter, Karen Muncy, of Francisco; a sister, Charlotte Rasche, of Oakland City; four grandchildren, Paul, Rebecca, Melissa and Aaron Coomer. 


Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Corn-Colvin Funeral Home in Oakland City, with burial in the Pleasant Ridge Cemetery, near Winslow. Dr. John Clanton and Dr. Rodney Walls officiating.

Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday and from 8 p.m. until service time Saturday at the Corn-Colvin Funeral Home.