Coffman, Samuel Frederick (1872-1954)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1954 Jul 8 p. 3

Birth date: 1872

text of obituary:

Ontario Church Leader, Educator Died June 28

BISHOP S. F. COFFMAN ORGANIZED ONTARIO BIBLE SCHOOL IN 1907

Kitchener, Ont.—Bishop Samuel Frederick Coffman, former pastor of the Mennonite congregation in Vineland—the first Mennonite church in Ontario— died suddenly at his home in Vineland on Monday evening, June 28. He was in his eighty-third year.

Born in Virginia in 1872, he spent his boyhood days in Elkhart, Ind. and came to Vineland as a young minister in 1896, taking charge of the Moyer Mennonite church. He was known throughout Canada, and especially in Ontario, for his interest in religious education.

In 1907 he organized the Ontario Mennonite Bible School in Kitchener, and served as its principal until his retirement in 1952. He also served for many years as secretary of the Mennonite Board of Education and held the position of moderator of the Mennonite Conference of the United States and Canada. He was also editor the church hymnal now in wide use throughout the Old Mennonite Church, and has produced a number of writings.

His funeral was held in his home church on the afternoon of July 1, with Bishop A. L. Fretz of Selkirk officiating. Also taking part in the service were Bishop C. F. Derstine, representing the Bible school, Bishop Roy Koch, representing the Ontario Mennonite Conference, C. J. Rempel, representing the Conference of Historic Peace Churches, and others.