Services for Richard L. (Dick) Coldren, father-in-law of Pastor Bruce Barlow (Winona Lake, Ind. Grace Brethren Church), will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, December 1 at at the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus, 8225 Worthington-Galena Rd., Westerville, Ohio. Below is the obituary that appears in today’s (November 28) Columbus Dispatch.
Richard L. (Dick) Coldren went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, November 27, 2007. He died at his home surrounded by family and friends, following an extended illness. He was born on December 25, 1929. A native of Columbus, his life was invested in teaching. He graduated from Linden McKinley High School, Capital University, and the Ohio State University. He served a four year hitch in the U.S. Marine Corps as a military police officer during the Korean Conflict. He started his teaching and coaching career in 1957 at Marion Franklin High School. Later, he taught English and speech at his alma mater, Linden McKinley, until 1964. He then became Director of Publications and Public Affairs for the Columbus Public Schools. He held that and other administrative positions until his retirement in 1990. He became a Christian as a teenager and served God in various ministries to students throughout his life. He was an avid runner, having participated in the first fifteen Columbus Marathons, as well as other races in the region. He served as a Docent at the Columbus Zoo for thirteen years. He loved educational programs, especially concerning the elephants. He married Carol (Tolbert) on May 9, 1953, who survives. He is also survived by his three children, Rick (Gayla) Coldren of Shreve, Ohio; Christi (Bruce) Barlow of Winona Lake, Indiana; Lori (Matt) Liston of Worthington; and his brother, Robert Coldren of Delaware. He is also survived by ten grand-children; one great-grand-child; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at the Grace Brethren Church Columbus, 8225 Worthington-Galena Rd., Westerville, on Saturday, December 1, 2007 at 1 p.m. Calling hours, also at the church, will be from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Schoedinger Chapel of Worthington is handling arrangements. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund for needy students has been established in his name at Gahanna Christian Academy and gifts in his memory may be sent directly to the school at 817 N. Hamilton Rd., Gahanna, OH, 43230.