Coleman H. Sawyer, Jr.
Coleman H. Sawyer, Jr., of Cleveland, Tennessee, passed away on September 19, 2021.
He grew up in Franklin and graduated from Battle Ground Academy. He began his college career at Vanderbilt before joining the U.S. Air Force and serving tours in Okinawa, Japan. In the Air Force he was on a team of six that prepared to deliver the atomic bomb in Korea, were it called for. He completed his B.S. in Industrial Management from the University of Tennessee, and went on to work for Hardwick Stove Company in Cleveland, where he served on the Board of Directors, and retired as Vice-President of Manufacturing after 28 years. Coleman was a member of Broad Street United Methodist Church and served on numerous community and Christian organizations including multiple terms on the board of the Cleveland Family YMCA.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Herman and Ruth Sawyer, and sister, Barbara Sawyer Morris.
He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Jeanne Harshbarger Sawyer, and their children, Cole (and Shelley) Sawyer and their children Adair and Samuel; David (and Melanie) Sawyer; Laura (and Wesley) Pitman and their children Sloane (Eric) Zupon, Arden (Mitchell) Meek, and Joseph (Erin) Pitman; their great-grandchildren Amara Zupon, Ace Pitman and David Meek; sister Mary Sawyer Kaneko von Posch and brother J Tom Sawyer, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Family will receive friends on Thursday, Sept. 23, from 12-2 p.m. at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland, with a private family service to follow.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Broad St. U.M.C. or Habitat for Humanity.