Joan B. Coffman

Joan Elizabeth Barkelew Coffman died on September 5, 2025, in McLean, Va. She was born to Edith Morris Barkelew and Richard Wightman Barkelew on September 10th, 1933, in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Her early years were spent there at the family’s summer home in Manasquan, New Jersey. After her mother’s death in 1943 and his discharge from the Navy, Joan and her father moved to the shore year round, finally settling in Brielle, New Jersey. She graduated from Manasquan High School in 1950 then went on to earn a BA degree from Western Maryland College (now McDaniel College) in 1954. She married Edgar Donald Coffman, a 1953 Western Maryland College graduate, in 1954. During their fifty nine year marriage Joan taught for the US Army when she was stationed at Ft. Know, Kentucky and taught 4th and 5th grades in Fairfax County when they moved to Virginia after his discharge. They enjoyed golf at Washington Golf & Country Club where Joan was seven times the Women’s Golf Champion and at the Ford’s Colony Country Club in Williamsburg where she twice held the title. She was President of the Women’s District of Columbia Golf Association in 1984-85 and received their 2011 award for distinguished service. Joan served for 21 years on the Girls Junior Committee of the United States Golf Association.