of Little Rock, AR

July 22, 1934 - September 8, 2020

After a long, courageous battle with cancer, Darrel W. Coleman was called home to be with his Lord on September 8, 2020 at the age of 86. He was born on July 22, 1934 in a two-room house in the Hobbtown Community of Rudy, AR. He was the fifth child of ten born to Fred and Dorothy Coleman. Until he was thirteen, he lived in a house with no electricity, no running water and no indoor plumbing.

Darrel was a true southern gentleman. He never met a stranger and was kind, caring, and giving to friends, family, and to all those he met. He loved life - especially music, birds, sports, theatre, and gardening. As an avid Arkansas Razorback fan, he could give you a play by play recount on games going back to the 1950's. He and Kay, his wife of 54 years, loved entertaining at their house and opening their home to friends, family, and neighbors. Gifted with the ability to connect with anyone and find a common bond or common friends, Darrel's Arkansas roots run far and wide.

Darrel began his formal education in a one-room schoolhouse located in the Hobbtown Community. He later attended Rudy School and graduated from Alma High School in 1951. Darrel worked his way through college selling shoes for Lee's and Kinney Shoe stores in Ft. Smith, and for four summers he sold bibles and books door-to-door for the Southwestern Company of Nashville, TN. His hard work enabled him to attend Ouachita Baptist his freshman year and then the University of Arkansas where he received a BS in Business Administration in 1956. After serving two years in the Army as a Chaplain's Assistant at Ft. Polk, LA, he returned to the U of A receiving an MBA in 1962.

A committed Christian and active in Baptist life, he served as the director of the Baptist Student Union (BSU) at Arkansas A & M College (now UAM) in Monticello in 1959. In 1961, he became the director of the BSU at the various college campuses in Little Rock. A long-time member of Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, Darrel served as chairman of deacons, chaired various committees and taught Sunday School for over thirty years.

Darrel had a 24-year career with IBM as a sales representative and loved his IBM family. After ''retiring'' from IBM, Darrel became the Director of Operations at Youth Home, Inc., taught at UCA as an adjunct professor of business, served as director of marketing for Gartman Systems of Sheridan for 10 years and worked for Cardinal Systems of Parsons, TN.
Darrel was passionate about volunteer work. He volunteered at the Arkansas Chapter of Muscular Dystrophy, Arkansas Rice Depot, Friends of Arkansas Reading Services for the Blind, Oasis Renewal Center and the Morrison Cemetery Association. A committed father, Darrel put his family first and would do anything for his two children. He coached Little League Basketball at Penick Boys Club and coached football at the Highway 10 League, to name a few.

He was preceded in death by his father, Fred Coleman, his mother Dorothy Coleman , his sister, Edna Bonewell, and his beloved wife, Kay.

He is survived by his children, Kathy McLendon of Waco, TX, Greg Coleman and his wife, Danielle of Frisco, TX and eight grandchildren, Cole, Kate and Pierce McLendon; Emma, Lizzie and Jack Coleman, Palmer and Beatrice Tochterman. Three sisters: Doris Hall and her husband Jim of Rudy, AR, LaMatha Baker and her husband Marvin of Oklahoma City, OK, Gloria Rogers and her husband Richard of Cedarville, AR; four brothers, Rudolph Coleman and his wife Dean of Van Buren, AR, Ronnie Coleman and his wife Tawana of Fort Smith, AR, Charles Connie Coleman and his wife Susie of El Dorado, AR, Quince Coleman and his wife Denise of Van Buren, AR.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, Saturday, September 12, 2020 at Roller Chenal funeral home. We are complying with the Arkansas Department of Health guidelines and limiting indoor visitation attendance to 50 people at one time. All attendees must provide and wear their own masks before entering. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 am, Monday, September 14, 2020 at Morrison Cemetery in Crawford County. A memorial service will be held at Pulaski Heights Baptist Church at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pulaski Heights Baptist Church, 2200 Kavanaugh Boulevard, Little Rock, AR 72205.

Obituary Provided By:
Roller-Chenal Funeral Home
13801 Chenal Parkway
Little Rock, AR  72211
www.rollerfuneralhomes.com