William Jackman "Jack" Coward, III

William Jackman "Jack" Coward, III, valiantly fought cancer until his peaceful passing on March 13, 2024, surrounded by loved ones. A longtime resident of the Short Pump area, Jack was born in Suffolk and grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. He graduated from Fishburne Military School and later earned his degree from Presbyterian College, where he proudly joined the KA fraternity. Following his education, Jack served our nation with distinction as a Captain in the US Army. During his military service, Jack’s life took a beautiful turn when he met the love of his life, Cindi. They were married and stationed in Honolulu, Hawaii, where their daughter Hollie came into their lives. After a tour in Vietnam, Jack returned to South Carolina, living in Greenville and Birmingham before being transferred to Richmond to open the Richmond International Forest Products office. Jack dedicated over 35 years to RIFP, where he became a well-known figure amongst independent sawmills throughout the South. His friendly demeanor, extensive knowledge, and captivating storytelling made him a beloved presence. Beyond his professional achievements, Jack was a passionate outdoorsman. Co-founding the Green K Hunt club with his friend Stu Wolff, they spent many mornings calling ducks & geese at Mr. Krahenbill’s farm in Louisa. Jack’s commitment extended to conservation efforts, as a founding member of the Western Henrico chapter of Ducks Unlimited. Even after retirement, he continued to serve DU by coordinating their silent bid auctions at local businesses and received numerous local and national recognitions for his contributions. Jack had a deep love for dogs and was particularly fond of his last black lab, Essie, whom he enjoyed training for hunting. Traveling with Cindi was another shared joy, with a particular interest in historical sites and national parks. They visited most every state together, even traveling to Montana on an epic road trip to meet the family at Yellowstone. Jack’s culinary skills were evident as he frequently manned his trusty PK charcoal grill, showcasing his love for grilling no matter the time of year. During the holidays, Jack became renowned for his homemade peanut brittle, a gesture that endeared him to family, friends, and even the receptionists at the sawmills who received their own containers. While being a loving father to Hollie and Billy, Jack found unparalleled joy in being “Daddy Jack” to his grandchildren, Gracelyn and Jackman, creating lasting memories on various adventures from setting out flags on Veteran’s Day and going on doughnut dates to memorable family trips to Yellowstone and the Florida Keys. Jack is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Cindi, of 54 years. He is survived by his daughter Holland Muscio (Sean) of Atlanta, son Billy (Anne), and grandchildren Gracelyn and Jackman of Richmond. He is also survived by his sisters, Pret Kopecky (Jan) of Richmond and Caroline Kruger of James Island, SC, niece Yancey Travassos (Alan) of Goldsboro, sister-in-law Janey Marks of West Hollywood, CA, and great family friend Chris Wolff of Richmond. The family extends heartfelt thanks to Virginia Urology, Virginia Cancer Institute, At Home Hospice and especially Ashley E. with Assisting Hands for their support during Jack’s illness. Memorial services will be held at Woody’s Funeral Home on Thursday March 28 with visitation at 2pm followed by a service at 3pm. The burial will be at the family plot in Franklin, VA on Saturday. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations in Jack’s honor to Feed More Richmond. May Jack’s adventurous spirit, warmth, and enduring legacy be remembered by all who were fortunate enough to share in his remarkable journey. His family invites you to please join us in raising a favorite beverage to Cheers alife well lived!