Albert Amsden Coolidge

Albert Amsden Coolidge, 85, of 2224 Ashlar Masonic Care, Wallingford, CT and formerly of Hebron, CT and Barefoot Bay, FL, died of declining health since January 2001, on Friday January 23, 2004 at Masonic Geriatric Health Care Center in Wallingford. He was born December 17, 1918 in Petersham, MA, the son of the late Horace Ober Sr. and Ruth Amsden Coolidge. A 1936 graduate of Petersham High School and a 1938 graduate of U.S. Diesel Engineering School in Boston, MA. Mr. Coolidge retired from Pratt & Whitney in 1975. Mr. Coolidge and family moved to Hebron from Wethersfield in 1945. He was Deacon Emeritus, former choir member, Sunday School teacher and Men's Fellowship President of the First Congregational Church of Hebron. He also served as President of the Tolland Association United Church of Christ Layman's Fellowship and represented same in Ohio in 1957 at the original U.C.C. General Synod. Mr. Coolidge was involved in the Hebron community as Chairman of the Hebron Board of Education, as an elected member of the Hebron Board of Finance and also served as Chairman of the Trustees of the Douglas Library. Since 1951 he has been a member of Wooster Lodge No. 10 A .F. & A. M. of Colchester, CT and served as Worshipful Master in 1958. During his retirement years in Barefoot Bay, FL, he was an active choir member at the Roseland United Methodist Church in Roseland, FL. He was an avid outdoorsman in early life, always a talented "fix-it" man with a special affinity for wood working, and became a golfer in his 40's. His golf game included a hole in one in 1982 and a club championship flight winner at Barefoot Bay Golf Club in 1983. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death in 1989 by his first wife, Ruth Chism Coolidge. Survivors include his second wife, Florence Kastner Coolidge of Wallingford, two daughters, Carolyn Coolidge Godfrey and her husband Ed of Williamsburg, VA; Mary Coolidge Ruth and her husband Bill of Stoney Creek, NC, two sons, Frank Albert Coolidge and his wife Cindy of Tampa, FL; and Calvin Chism Coolidge and his wife Joan of Alexandria, VA; one brother, Horace O. Coolidge Jr. of Petersham, MA; nine grandchildren, Cindi Ruth Abbott, Anne Godfrey Mabry, David Ruth, Ted Godfrey, Elizabeth Godfrey, Amanda Coolidge, Melinda Coolidge, Emily Coolidge, Sarah Coolidge, 7 great grandchildren, Sawyer Abbott, Allison Mabry, Erika Mabry, Brynne Abbott, Luke Amsden Abbott, Charlotte Mabry and Ashley Ruth. His family will receive friends at the Potter Funeral Home, 456 Jackson St., Rte. 195, Willimantic on Sunday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church of Hebron, junction Rte.66 and Rte. 85, Hebron. Burial will follow in the Westford Hill Cemetery, Westford. The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be sent to First Congregational Church of Hebron, P. O. Box 141, Hebron, CT 06248 or the Alzheimer's Association, Northern CT Chapter, 96 Oak St. Hartford, CT 06106. Please visit www.potterfh.com for directions and online memorial guestbook.