Obituary of Coulter Reid Bracken
Coulter Reid Bracken, 78 years of age of Bridgeport, WV died peacefully at home surrounded by family on June 28, 2017. He was born May 13, 1939 in Morgantown, WV, the son of the late Coulter Reid Bracken and Dorothy Helen Bracken.
Coulter is survived by his wife of over 54 years, Mrs. Theresa Ann Bracken, as well as his three children and four grandchildren, William Reid and wife Rozanna of Charleston, WV, and their sons William Reid and Luke Thomas; Mary Sue and her husband Thomas Harwood of Herndon, VA; and Coulter Michael and his wife Vicki of Bridgeport, WV, and their sons Coulter Alexander and Justin Reedy and his wife Kelli of Bruceton Mills, WV. Mr. Bracken is also survived by his brother, Samuel Porter Bracken, his wife Barbara and their three children, as well as several nieces and nephews from Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Mr. Bracken graduated from West Virginia University, participating in the university's ROTC program and the Theta Chi fraternity, and obtained a Bachelor's Degree of Science in Business Administration in 1961. He then served 2 years of active duty in the U.S. Army, serving one year on the 38th Parallel in South Korea as a First Lieutenant in Company C of the First Battalion 110th Infantry. After concluding active duty, Mr. Bracken worked for the H.J. Heinz Company in Pittsburgh, and served in the Pennsylvania National Guard for 4 years. Mr. Bracken then worked as a claims superintendent for State Farm Insurance company from 1966 until his retirement in 2004.
Mr. Bracken was an active member of the Lions Club International, serving for 42 years in both leadership and member positions. He was an active fly-fisherman, and enjoyed spending time with his fishing buddies on the Cheat River, as well as spending time with his children and grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Bracken's memory to People's Hospice and the United Hospital Center, as well as Guiding Eyes for the Blind via their website at guidingeyes.org or by sending donations in Coulter Bracken's name to 611 Granite Springs Road, Yorktown Heights, NY 10598.
Friends will be received at the Ford Funeral Home, 215 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV on Friday from 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM and 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and on Saturday from 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM. The funeral service will be celebrated in the funeral home on Saturday, July 1,2017 at 11:00 AM with Reverend James T. Lang presiding. A private interment will be held at the West Virginia National Cemetery, Pruntytown, WV.
Condolences may be extended to the family at www.fordfuneralhomes.com.
The Bracken family has entrusted the care and arrangements to the Ford Funeral Home, 215 East Main Street, Bridgeport, WV.
