John M. Coffman, 73, Thorntown, died Sunday, Feb. 3, 2013, at St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis.

He was born Dec. 26, 1939, in Thorntown, to George M. Coffman and Nora Ellen Hampton; they are deceased.

He married Annette Gellner in Washington D.C. on Aug. 5, 1961, and she survives.

Mr. Coffman graduated from Thorntown High School in 1958 and was then a Master Chief in the U.S. Navy. After 20 years in the service he retired and went to Alcoa where he worked in the tube mill for 15 years, retiring in 1993.

He was a member of the Thorntown American Legion, County Line Fishing Club of Thorntown and the Boone County Genealogy Club. His hobbies were fishing, gardening and genealogy and spending time with his family. His grandchildren called him Papaw Chief.

Survivors in addition to his wife, are two sons, John (Janice) Coffman, Colorado Springs, Co., and Gary Coffman of Thorntown; a daughter, Alice Vansickle of New Ross; three brothers, Dale (Linda) Coffman of Thorntown, George “Bud” (Katie) Coffman of Grandbury, Texas, and Harry (Carolyn) Coffman, West Chester, Ohio, and three sisters, Jenny (Harold) Singer of Anderson, Evie (Tom) Williams of Thorntown, and Connie Antrim of Lebanon.

One sister, Alice Wilson, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, Feb. 8, at Russell & Hitch Funeral Home Thorntown, 116 W. Plum St., Thorntown.