William Matthew Coleman, of Sharon, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 6, 2018, in Trumbull Memorial Hospital, Warren, Ohio at 5:15 p.m. surrounded by his family.  He was 95.

He leaves his two daughters, Mary Gertrude Kocis and her husband, Stevan of Sharon, and Elizabeth A. Napoli and her husband, Peter J., of North Port, Florida
and formerly of Pomona, New York and two step-grandchildren and four step-great grandchildren, all in New York.  He was preceded in death by his wife, Evelyn Driscoll Coleman, formerly from Greenville, PA, in March 1985 as well as two sisters, Mary Coleman and Theresa Flynn, both of Sharon and three brothers, James of Toledo, Ohio/Sharon, PA, Walter of Sharon and Edward of Kansas City, Missouri.

Mr. Coleman was born on March 30, 1922 and raised in Sharon, the son of Patrick Henry Coleman and Mary Purcell Coleman who preceded him in death.  He was a graduate of Sharon High School.  A war veteran, he enlisted with the United States Army in 1942 and served thirty months in the European Theater.  He was honorably discharged with the rank of First Sergeant on February 17, 1946.   He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Farrell Post 5286, and a fourth degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Sharon.

William Coleman was a public servant for over 35 years before retiring in 1992 as District Judge for the city of Sharon and the borough of Sharpsville.  Mr. Coleman began his career as an Alderman of the 4 th Ward in the City of Sharon serving from 1956 to 1970.  He was the past Treasurer of the Mercer County Magistrates Association in the mid-60's.  He was active with the Democratic Party, first as a Committeeman from 1950-1975 and then as the Sharon City Committee Chairman from 1962-1966.  During these days, he had a lead role in organizing John F. Kennedy's visits to the cities of Sharon and Farrell during the 1960 presidential campaign.  He worked for the state Auditor General, auditing financial records of aldermen, justices of the peace and county row offices from 1961 to 1967.  Bill then moved on to become the volunteer Mercer County Democratic Chairman in 1966 and then was elected for two terms as Mercer County Commissioner from 1968- 1975, serving a chairman from 1972 through 1974.

During his career, Coleman was active in a variety of civic and community organizations including The Governor's Justice Commission-Northeast Region, Chairman of the Seven County Elderly Nutrition Policy Committee/Multi-County Human Resource Development Corporation, The Mercer County Planning Commission, The Mercer County Mental Health & Retardation Association, The Sharon Redevelopment Authority and The Sharon Regional Hospital Authority.  He was also a trustee on the Edinboro State College Board of Trustees from 1974 to 1980.

He was affiliated with St. Stanislaus Kostka-Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, 370 Spruce Street , in Sharon and formerly with St. Joseph's Church in Sharon, PA.

Memorial contributions, if desired, may be made to: Buhl Park Corporation, 715 Hazen Road, Hermitage, PA  16148 .

Calling hours: 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10, 2018 in the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon, PA .

Condolences may be sent to his family by visiting the web site: www. McGonigleFuneralHomeandCremato ry.com