Fred Coffinger
G. Fred Coffinger, 81, peacefully passed away at his home in San Tan Valley on May 1, 2023. Fred was born on January 31, 1942, in Phoenix, the eldest of three sons of Gene and Dorothy Coffinger, both well-recognized school teachers in the Madison School District.
He is preceded in death by his parents; the mother of their three children Frances; brother Don; and son-in-law Roy Kading.
He is survived by Sharon, his loving wife of 16 years; daughter Kathy Kading; son Scott (Nancy); son Chad; brother Richard (Sue); as well as five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren; two nieces and one nephew.
Fred attended Madison #1, North Phoenix High School and Phoenix Central High School graduating in 1960. Like all family members Fred was a life-long Sun Devil fan graduating from ASU in 1964 from the College of Construction. He went on to supervise numerous water treatment plants over the next 25 years and then became owner of Paul Davis Restoration in Tucson, Arizona, until retirement in 1999.
At a young age his father instilled in him a passion for the outdoors—hunting and fishing with his father, sons and many family members, until his last elk hunt in 2021. As a young child his true passion was horses and he was a “true cowboy,” spending time with his uncles trotter horses and for four decades excelling as a “heeler” in the sport of team roping. At the age of 80, sadly battling cancer ended his ability to participate in team roping, hunting and fishing. During his team roping career he was a Silver Legacy Lifetime member of World Series of Team Roping.
A celebration of life was held June 3 at the George Aros Arena in Eloy, Arizona. Donations can be made to the American Cancer Society for research of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma cancer.