Rodger Bruce Coburn

Rodger B. Coburn passed away October 16, 2018. He was born to Roswell and Carolyn Coburn in Elgin, Illinois in 1944. He was a graduate of Elgin High School, attended the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, & held bachelor's & master's degrees from Grand Valley State University. After serving 6 years in the US Navy during the Vietnam War, he resumed his musical career as a public school music educator in Michigan, Minnesota, and Florida. As a performer, he loved playing violin as a soloist and in volunteer groups and semi-professional orchestras in Michigan, Iowa, Chicago, Minneapolis, and Florida. Most recently he was the music director of Lakeland's newly formed Florida Philharmonia Orchestra. His many interests included travel, history, reading, gardening, camping, his dogs Churchill and Buster, and especially his exquisite model shipbuilding. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Rev. Michael Coburn. He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Frances; 4 daughters: Margaret (Anthony) Smith, Winter Haven, FL, Cathryn Coburn, Oceanside, CA, Karen Coburn, Lakeland, and Jennifer (Ofer) Ashkenazi, Jerusalem, Israel; 4 granddaughters; Anna (Anthony) Rogers, Abigail Smith, Maya and Lia Ashkenazi; sister Constance Jameson; and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. A memorial service for Rodger will be held at College Heights United Methodist Church on Thursday, October 25th, at 11:00 a.m. The family thanks Cornerstone for amazing and loving care. In lieu of flowers,donations can be made to the FL Philharmonia, SPCA, or Cornerstone Hospice.