Kolman, Geraldine Joyce

March 16, 1936 July 23, 2017 She was know best as "Jeri" by all that loved her. She went to be with her Lord & Savior on Sunday afternoon.

She grew up in El Monte, CA. At 18 she was a pen pal for a serviceman named Neil Kolman. After a year of writing, he drove to California to meet her and it was love at first sight. They were engaged the next day & married 2 weeks later. They shared 30 wonderful years of marriage! He earned the rank of Lt. Col. and retired before his passing in 1984. She had 3 children, Steve, Shelley & Sam before completing her degree in Education & taught 1st grade for 4yrs. She then obtained a Masters degree in Accounting, finishing her last semester with 21 hours & a 4.0 GPA while raising 3 teens. She was an auditor for 16 yrs for the Air Force. After retirement she loved traveling. Seeing the world was a passion of hers and Africa was her favorite.

She is survived by her son Sam and daughter Shelley, husband Patrick Smith and grandchildren Neil, Emily, Eleanor Smith. She is preceded by her husband Neil and her son Steve, brothers Earnest Bethel and James Bethel, mother Rhoda Ridgway Bethel and father George Bethel and two step fathers Alfred and Ellsworth Bethel who are waiting for her in Heaven with open arms. She was very much loved by all will be missed greatly.

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