Julian Baxter Coghill

Julian Baxter Coghill, beloved husband, father, grandfather & friend passed away Friday, December 19 at the age of 85. He was born and raised Charleston, West Virginia. In 1941, he graduated with a degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

During World War II he served as a Lieutenant in the navy on a Landing Craft Infantry gunboat. His group received a Presidential Unit Citation for the landing at Iwo Jima. He was transferred by E.I. Dupont to Orange, Texas where he was employed for 47 years as environmental engineer.

During his life he gave generously of his time to church, civic and political activities. He was ordained as an elder in the Presbyterian Church, was Clerk of the Session, taught bible classes, served on the Presbytery Nominating Committee, the Synod permanent judicial commissions, was actively involved in the three "courts" of Presbytery, Synod and General Assembly in 1991.

During the merger of the Texas and Red River Synods, he created the new name, "Synod of the Sun", for the newly united synod. Among his many civic and political contributions were Councilman and Mayor of Lakeview, Texas; Chairman of the Southeast Regional Planning Commission; President, Vice President, & Secretary of the Texas Municipal League - Region 16;

Texas Drainage District 7 Commissioner; member of the Texas Water Conservation Board; Board member and Chairman of the South Jefferson County American Red Cross; member of the Port Arthur Civil Rights Commission; member of the Lakeview Lions Club; and worked for housing for the elderly.

He was also instrumental in the organization of the Kappa Sigma chapter at Lamar University. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty Coghill, who was the love of his life; and his daughters, Carole Coghill and partner Charles Walne; Kathleen Snyder and husband, Kent Snyder; and two grandchildren, Emily and John Snyder, whom he thought the world of and adored.