 |
| Virginia on her 98th birthday, August 28, 2021 |
Virginia Touby Coan
1923 - 2021
Our mother, Virginia Coan, left this life gently in her sleep on Friday evening, December 31. We could not have planned a greater celebration of the new year than the homecoming she received that night. At the age of 98, she had faced many challenges as her vision faded and age sapped her strength. In spite of her physical restrictions, she persevered gracefully and cheerfully, always looking forward to times with friends and family.
She was born the fourth daughter of five to Emmett and Elsie Touby. After graduating from Howard High School, she pursued her love of music at Ball State Teachers College. Throughout her teaching career she gave countless students in the community an appreciation for beautiful music. Virginia dedicated her life to her family, friends, and church, always encouraging everyone with gentle counsel, positive teaching, generous spirit and overflowing love. The one attribute that characterized her life was stewardship... of the land, her resources, her talents, and her time. Her appreciation for all things beautiful was evident in her home and in her life.
She was preceded in death by her husband of sixty years, Arthur J. Coan; sisters, Louise Coan, Dorothy Kearney, Frances Touby, and Joan Coburn; and youngest daughter, Elizabeth Campbell. Her surviving children are: J. David Coan (Mary) of Greentown, IN; Jane Ellefson (Bill) of Lindenhurst, IL; and Nancy Snapp (Mark) of Poland, IN; six grandchildren: Jason Coan (Shay), Ken Ellefson, Stephanie Snapp Truax (Jake), Sarah Campbell Bennett (Paul), David Snapp (Brooke), and Emily Campbell Mahoney (Daniel); twelve great-grandchildren; dear nieces and nephews.
A private funeral service for the family was held on Saturday, January 8, at Hasler-Stout funeral home, Greentown, IN, officiated by Rev. Charles Armstrong. A burial service followed at Greenlawn Cemetery, Greentown, IN.
An open invitation for all family and friends to celebrate Virginia's life will be held at Northview Christian Church, 2059 N 100 E, Kokomo, IN, on Saturday, May 7, 2022 with a service beginning at 11:00 am. Those wishing to pay their respects may do so from 10:00 until the time of service.
Music was our mother's language and her soul's purest expression; it flowed from her heart to the piano keyboard. To honor Virginia's love of music and her legacy of music education, gifts may be given in her memory to the Whorwell Musicianship Fund, administered by Community Foundation of Howard County, 215 W. Sycamore, Kokomo, IN. (Check memo: Whorwell Fund, or online at www.cfhoward.org).
Dave Coan, Jane Coan Ellefson, Nancy Coan Snapp
LINK for video in memory of VIRGINIA TOUBY COAN
LINK for funeral video for VIRGINIA TOUBY COAN
LINK for Virginia's 90th Birthday Book
LINK for Virginia's Childhood - Narrated Video
LINK for Celebration of Life video for Virginia Touby Coan