John L. Jack Coble

John L. (Jack) Coble, age 85 passed away February 21, 2009 at the Jerry L. Pettis Veterans Administration Hospital in Loma Linda, California. He graduated Redlands High School, played football, wrote for Redlands Facts. Performed in Redlands Great Y Circus founded by his father, Roy Coble, in 1929. Enlisted in Army Air Corp at age 19, as a ball turret gunner in a B-17... His plane was shot down over Berlin December 1944. A P.O.W. (Prisoner of War) he was liberated May 1945 by the Russians. Returned home to Redlands to a heroes welcome. Using the GI Bill, John attended the University of Redlands, UCLA, Denver University. Dr. Coble taught high school 1 year at Lancaster, then at San Bernardino Valley College as an English professor 48 years. His specialties: Shakespeare, literature, creative writing. Well-loved and appreciated by many students, innovative in his approach to teaching, he developed a favorite course he called Literature in Flight. His wit, his humor, provided a catalyst for sharing and learning with his students. Dr. Coble s students remember paper-airplane contest, Shakespeare s birthday celebrations, red balloon launchings, and automatic writing sessions with meditation music. Dr. Coble s willingness to read and re-read student writing encouraged many who later became published authors. An avid hiker, he often encountered former students on mountain trails. A glider (sailplane) pilot, he flew alongside eagles and told of flying through the center of a rainbow. He introduced many students to the love of flying at his own expense. A reader, philosopher, author his collection of short stories, Two Eagles, published in 1963, reflects this local environment. A steam train and roller coaster buff, he found and road trains and roller coasters all over the U.S. He treated birds, ladybugs, squirrels, spiders, ants, all animals and especially dogs with upmost respect. He married Lorraine Hunt, they divorced. Continuing to care for her, they remained friends until her death in 2008. In 1986 John married Sunny Wallick. His loving commitment to her included her five children, Tamie, Connie, Elizabeth, Roseanne and Amber and spouses, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Sunny s cheerful mother, John s good friend, at 80 years old, was asked what she wanted for her birthday, she said, "A sailplane ride with John." At 81 she was asked once again, She replied, "Another ride!" His experiences, his journey through life reflected a growing understanding that violence is not a solution to problems and that war is obsolete. He joined and supported Veterans for Peace and was in Boston at Faneuil Hall at the time Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAW) was formed by soldiers from Iraq. A kind, peaceful, and responsible man he had a fearless approach to life. Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. at the Emmerson Bartlett Memorial Chapel, 703 Brookside Avenue, Redlands, California 91761.