Richard "Rick" Gordon Coakwell

Richard “Rick” Gordon Coakwell, 84, of Zanesville passed away Wednesday, February 10 at Genesis Hospital. He was born October 16, 1936 in Lakewood, Ohio to the late Richard L. Coakwell and Evalyn Wilting Coakwell.

Rick graduated from The Ohio State University College of Agriculture with a Bachelor’s degree. Following graduation, he was employed at Babcock Poultry Research Farm in Ithaca, New York before returning to Columbus and Ohio State where he earned a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration.

He worked in the Campus Planning Department there until he came to Zanesville where he was hired by Muskingum Area Technical College and was instrumental in moving the Technical College to the Ohio University Zanesville Campus.

He completed his employment years as owner of Classic Gallery, a local coin, stamp, and gun store on Maple Avenue. He later moved his business to Putnam Avenue where he obtained a pawn license, enabling him to buy, sell, trade, and also pawn.

Rick was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church. When he first moved to Zanesville, Rick was active for many years in the United Way fundraising program, and was a planning committee member for the popular Zane’s Trace Commemoration, held annually for years along the Muskingum River in Putnam. Rick was humbled by the honor of receiving the local “Sertoman of the Year” award.

His main hobby was target shooting. He became very skilled at this, but was never interested in hunting. Being blessed to do some world traveling brought Rick much pleasure in his later years.

Rick was a principled person, a patriot who loved his country. He served in the Army Reserve Corps following college. In his neighborhood, he had the reputation of having one of the well-manicured lawns. A close neighbor and he would have friendly competitions about who could be the first and the last one to mow their lawns each season.

Rick is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carol Keller Coakwell; daughter Laura Ludolf; two sons: Mark (Kathryn) Coakwell and Douglas Coakwell; eleven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Catherine Coakwell Contini.

Visiting hours will be held on Monday, February 15 from 11am to 1pm, with the funeral service immediately following, at SNOUFFER FUNERAL HOME, 1150 WEST MILITARY ROAD, ZANESVILLE. The burial service will be conducted the next day, Tuesday, February 16 at Forest Lawn Cemetery, Columbus, Ohio.

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