Eunice Potter ’45 Coffman

Eunice R. Coffman, a long-time Bloomfield Hills resident, died Sunday, June 13, 2021 at Samaritas Senior Living Center in Bloomfield Hills. She was 98.

Eunice was born February 2, 1923, in Highland, Wisconsin, the youngest of five children of the Rev. Herman J. and Guizena Potter. As a child and teenager she lived in Highland, Wisconsin; Washington, Iowa; Holland, Michigan, and Dumont, Iowa.

Following graduation from Dumont High School, she attended Hope College in Holland and Davenport College in Grand Rapids. In 1941 she moved to Detroit where she worked as a secretary at Strand Steel Corp. There she met her future husband, Paul Coffman, a decorated U.S. Air Corps pilot who took part in the D-Day Invasion of Normandy. They were married January 4, 1947.

Eunice later worked at Ford Motor Company for more than 20 years in public relations and other capacities.

She was a long-time member of the Village Club in Birmingham. She also served as an elder and deacon and president of the Women’s Society at Kirk in the Hills Presbyterian Church in Bloomfield Hills.

Eunice had a zest for life and loved to travel. Her spirit of adventure, her sense of humor, and her curious mind and engaging spirit will be missed by all who knew her.

Eunice was preceded in death by her son Eric in 1999, her husband Paul in 2001, and by her four siblings—Eugene Potter, Mildred Joldersma, Jean Nieuwsma and Pauline Borr.

She is survived by several nieces and nephews including Carol Garvelink of Douglas, Michigan; Milton (Marilee) Nieuwsma of Holland, Michigan; Mark (Paula) Nieuwsma of Grand Haven, Michigan; Gary (Cheri) Nieuwsma of Holland, Michigan; Diane (Robert) Portenga of Traverse City, Michigan; Jane (Luke) Sandborn, of Sunfield, Michigan; Thomas (Anna) Joldersma of Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Ronald (Ro) Borr, of Blairsville, Georgia; Deborah (David) Olien; Dr. Douglas Smith (Karen); David Paul Smith (Kathryn); and Daniel (Esther) Marlow.