Otha Charles (Sr.) Coleman

Otha Charles Coleman, Sr. was born on August 9, 1933 in Fordyce, Arkansas to the late Theodore Roosevelt Coleman and Estella Jimerson.  He was the oldest of four siblings, Herman “Herb”, George “Larry” and Ruth Jimerson all from Las Vegas, Nevada, where he also resided for a short period before returning to California.  At an early age, Otha moved to Crockett, Arkansas to live with his aunt Mary Coleman until he graduated from high school.  On October 21, 1950, he enlisted into the United States Army. During his enlistment in the army, he was stationed overseas in Korea where he worked as a cook.  After returning to stateside, he was stationed at Fort Ord, in Salinas, CA, until his discharge on October 20, 1953.  After returning home from the army, Otha married the love of his life, Oma Juniel.  On November 20, 1953, Otha and Oma were married in Yuma, Arizona. They were married for 66 years.

Throughout Otha’s 86 years he worked his butt off at various jobs, eventually he returned to school and studied to be an electrician.  He was entrepreneur minded, focused on earning enough money to give his seven children a comfortable life. He worked two jobs to ensure that his family’s needs were met, and they were comfortable. He ran a landscaping business during the day and worked his way to upper management from a maintenance worker, into an evening supervisor role at Kaiser for 22 years.  He also worked at Bellflower Unified School District for 20 years as a supervisor, until his health deteriorated, and he could no longer work. Although he didn’t invent or discover any life-altering changes to pass onto the world, he taught his children to always follow their hearts by using the preeminence of reason and set a positive example for their children and future grandchildren. No matter how tight money was, we never lacked shelter, food, clothing or love. During the holidays and summertime, he loved going to Las Vegas to visit with his mother, and his two-favorite uncle’s, Verlis and Vernon. In his leisure time he loved to play dominoes and bid whist to the wee hours of night, sometime to the early morning. Occasionally he visited the casinos in Las Vegas and played Blackjack, winning sometimes and losing other times. 

Today, we thank God for the opportunity to have had Otha in our lives. He was a devoted husband, father, son, brother, uncle, grandfather, cousin and most of all, a friend.  We have been blessed far beyond what we could have ever hoped for by having him in our lives.

Otha leaves to cherish his memories; Oma his devoted wife of 66 years, seven children: four daughters and three sons, Linda (Lee) Johnson of Southfield, MI; Wanda Coleman-Morris of Lake Elsinore, CA; Winona (Wendell) Sholes of Long Beach, CA; Otha Charles Coleman Jr. of Compton, CA; Michael Coleman of Las Vegas NV; and the twins Dolores Coleman and Dennis Coleman of Lake Elsinore, CA; three daughter-in laws, Brenda Coleman of Garden Grove, CA: Tanya Coleman, of Long Beach, CA, Joyce Coleman of Las Vegas, NV; two brothers, Herman (Christy) Jimerson of  Las Vegas NV; George Jimerson of Las Vegas, NV; one sister Ruth (Leon) Jimerson of Las Vegas, NV; one aunt Fannie Mae Dixon of Las Vegas, NV;  15 grandchildren: Darric Coleman of Lake Elsinore, Ca;  Cameron (Victoria) Coleman, Bluffton, IN; Ronnise Alter of Riverside, CA; LaJoya Johnson, of Florissant, MO; Michael Morris II of Lake Elsinore, CA;  Aaron, Coleman of Garden Grove, CA;  Theresa Sholes of Long Beach, CA; Maurice Morris of Lake Elsinore, CA; Damien Coleman, Compton, CA;  Brian Sholes of Sacramento, CA; Lee Johnson Jr. of Detroit MI; Layna Johnson of  Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Anthony Coleman of Compton, CA; Antonio Coleman of  Pomina, CA; Antonia Doss-Bryant, Las Vegas, NV;  5 great grandsons: Cameron Coleman Jr, Khari Coleman both of Bluffton, IN;  George McGuirer and  Aidden Robinson  both of Riverside, CA; and Anthony Coleman, Jr of Compton, CA; and 3 great granddaughters Vanessa (Tyler) White of Lafayette, IN;  Kiana Coleman of Bluffton, IN and Ty Coleman of Compton, CA & one great great-grandson: Ezra White, Lafayette, IN; a host of adopted children, nieces, nephews, family, and friends.

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