George C. Coker, Sr.

George C. "Cliff" Coker, age 93, passed away Wednesday, August 19, 2015 at his home in Bartow. Born April 1, 1922 in Gardner, Florida, he was the son of the late John Silas and Stella Marie Coker. Mr. Coker was a U.S. Army veteran of WWII. Cliff retired from the U.S. Postal Service after many years of service as a Postmaster in Bartow. Mr. Coker was very active in many ways serving the community of Bartow. He served as a City Commissioner, Vice Mayor, and played a important part of the city's purchase of the Bartow Golf Course. He was a longtime member and Past President of the Bartow Lion's Club, and member and Past Post Commander of the American Legion Post #3 in Bartow. Mr. Coker proudly served in the Florida National Guard, where he was a Lieutenant Colonel and Battalion Commander of the 138th Field Artillery in Lakeland. Cliff most recently attended the New Life Baptist Church in Fort Meade. Mr. Coker is preceded in death by his wife Fay Haskew Coker in 2003 and a daughter Anita Fay Naberhaus in 1999. He is survived by a loving family that includes his daughter Yvonne C. Blair and husband Stephen of Jacksonville, his son George C. Coker, Jr. of Ocala, four grandchildren and two great grandchildren. The family will receive friends Saturday, August 22nd from 9am to 10am at Whidden-McLean Funeral Home in Bartow. Funeral service will follow at 10:00am at the funeral home chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org