Attorney Ira Burdette
Coldren, Jr.
Attorney Ira Burdette Coldren, Jr. of Uniontown, Pa., left his long and distinguished mortal life to join God… Coldren, Jr.
Attorney Ira Burdette Coldren, Jr. of Uniontown, Pa., left his long and distinguished mortal life to join God in heaven on August 25, 2008.
Mr. Coldren was born in Uniontown, on June 15, 1924, the son of his late parents Ira Burdette Coldren, Sr. and Eleanor Clarke Lincoln Coldren.
He also leaves behind his deeply devoted wife, Frances Thomas Coldren, with whom he spent 37 wonderful years.
As a young man, Mr. Coldren and his younger brother Clarke were active in Boy Scouts, YMCA and many sports. He worked as a paperboy for the Uniontown Evening Genius and as a gas station attendant while going to local schools.
He was the youngest graduate in the Uniontown High School, class of 1941, having been allowed to skip the second grade. He was accepted into Penn State University and attended for a year until receiving an appointment from the Secretary of War to enter the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1942. As part of his education, Mr. Coldren was trained as a pilot in a Fairchild PT-19 at Cimarron Field in Oklahoma and as an infantryman at Ft. Benning, Georgia.
After graduation from West Point in 1945, Mr. Coldren was assigned to the 16th Infantry in Germany and Austria. He and the former Phyllis Ann Miles of Scottdale welcomed their first child, Kathy Ann, while stationed in Salzburg, Austria. They enjoyed their time in the legendary land of the von Trapp family and Lipizzaner stallions. Upon their return to the States in 1948, Lieutenant Coldren and family were stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas, where he was an instructor and where their second daughter, Lee Ellen, was born.
As part of his Army training, Mr. Coldren attended the University of Pennsylvania Law School from 1949 to 1952, earning him a Doctor of Laws degree. Before shipping off to the Pentagon as part of the Judge Advocate General’s staff, now Captain Coldren and his family were joined by their third daughter, Janice Lyn. In 1953 and 1954, he served as a Judge Advocate in Pusan, Korea, where he received the Bronze Star for his accomplishments.
After returning from the Far East, Mr. Coldren was posted to teach at the JAG school at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville. He left both the school and the regular Army in 1956 to return to Uniontown and join his father’s law practice – Ray, Coldren & Buck. His son, David Burdette, was born shortly thereafter. He continued his military career in the Army reserves, attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel before his retirement in 1968.
Mr. Coldren and his father founded Coldren & Coldren, Attorneys at Law, in 1959. In 1962, good friend and future judge Fred C. Adams began a partnership with the Coldrens that spanned more than four decades. The firm of Coldren & Adams became known as one of the area’s most respected law firms.
Mr. Coldren married for a second time in 1971, to the former Frances T. Whyel. Fran and Ira enjoyed family, traveling, golfing, dancing and winters in Miami Beach and Palm City, Florida.
Mr. Coldren served in many civic capacities over the years, including as 1959 National Director of the Pennsylvania Jaycees, 1962 President of the Greater Uniontown United Fund, 1964-1965 President of the Uniontown Rotary Club, President of the Uniontown Country Club from 1969 to 1971, President of the Fayette County Development Council in 1975, member of the Uniontown Bicentennial Commission from 1974-1976 and President of the Fayette County Bar Association in 1983. Among the many associations he enjoyed over the years, none was more so than his time as member and president of the Uniontown Jaycees.
He also served as the president of the Pennsylvania Bar Institute in 1982 and was president of the Pennsylvania Bar Association in 1986. Later in life, he became an instrument-rated private pilot – fulfilling a dream that had its roots in his military training more than 40 years earlier. He also continued his education, adding a Master of Laws in Estate Planning from the University of Miami Law School in 1982.
Mr. Coldren was named the Uniontown Area Chamber of Commerce “Citizen of the Year” in 1990. He was extremely proud to be the recipient of the Eleanor Lincoln Coldren Award from the Fayette County Chapter of the American Red Cross in 1997. The honor is bestowed on the person who “exemplifies the spirit of volunteering themselves to better the community.” It was named after his mother, who gave many years service to the Red Cross, including organizing their Gray Ladies volunteers.
Mr. Coldren, like his father, was a Freemason for many decades, having attained the 33rd degree and served as Master and Thrice Potent Master of the local lodges. He was also a member of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite. He was a life-long member of Third Presbyterian Church in Uniontown where he was a former trustee and elder. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Clarke Lincoln Coldren of Houston, Texas.
Mr. Coldren will be deeply missed by his surviving family: his wife, Fran; daughter, Kathy Wallace and former husband Tom Wallace of Grand Blanc, Michigan, daughter, Lee Tangarone and husband Guy Tangarone of New Hartford, Connecticut, daughter, Janice Coldren-Camden and husband Sam Camden of Crystal Lake, Illinois, son, David Coldren and wife Christine Kinney of Richmond, Virginia; and stepdaughter, Dian and husband David Moore of Paris, Michigan. In addition, he leaves 11 beautiful grandchildren; 12 adoring great-grandchildren; and four wonderful nieces and all of their families. They will always remember his cheery demeanor, strong character, bow ties and fedora hats. Mr. Coldren may never have said it about himself, but his family will all attest that he was one of the last of “America’s Greatest Generation.”
The family invites his many friends, colleagues and relatives to join them for a Memorial Service. Arrangements have been entrusted to the ANDREW D. FERGUSON FUNERAL HOME, INC., 80 Morgantown Street, Uniontown, Pa. Services will be conducted on Friday, August 29, 2008, in the State Theatre – Center for the Arts, 37 East Main Street, Uniontown, Pa. Time for gathering will begin at 9 a.m. Fayette Lodge 228, Free and Accepted Masons will conduct the Masonic Funeral Service at 11 a.m. followed by a Memorial Service celebrating Mr. Coldren’s life with Pastor Nicholas J. Cook and the Rev. Christopher Enoch officiating.
Full Military Rites will be accorded by AmVets Post 103, General George C. Marshall Post following the service.
In lieu of flowers, donations to the Fayette County Chapter of the American Red Cross, 108 Morgantown St., Uniontown, PA 15401 and the Westmoreland/Fayette Council of the Boy Scouts of America, 2 Garden Center Dr., Greensburg, PA 15601 are suggested.
Memorial emails may be emailed to the family at memorials@adferguson.com.