SHALIMAR — The Okaloosa-Walton Medical Examiner’s Office says a forensic autopsy has positively identified the victim of Saturday’s fatal plane crash in North Okaloosa County as 64-year old John Edward Coleman Jr., a Laurel Hill resident.
The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the cause of the crash that took place in a heavily wooded area around 3 p.m. Aug. 23 near Steel Mill Road in Laurel Hill.
Coleman was a U.S. Army veteran. His family has also described him as "an avid musician and singer, a member of The 327th Infantry Regimental Association, a pilot, an expert at salsa dance," and a man who loved to travel.
A celebration of his life is planned at 3:30 p.m. Aug. 30 at Brackney Funeral Service, 480 James Lee Blvd., Crestview, with Mike Smith officiating. The family will receive friends at 3 p.m. Saturday at Brackney.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The 327th Infantry Regimental Association, Dale Hansen, 3171 CR 3815, Athens, TX 75752.
You may leave your condolences on the News Bulletin obituary page or Brackney Funeral Service's website.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Victim in fatal plane crash positively identified as Laurel Hill man