Robert L. Coleman, Jr.

Mr. Robert L. Coleman Jr.—known to his family simply as RL—entered the world on February 28, 1935, courtesy of Jameseleda and Robert L. Coleman Sr. He was the oldest of three children, proudly holding the “big brother” title over Alonzo and Joan. RL grew up in Houston’s 5th Ward and graduated from Phillis Wheatley High School in 1953. A talented 1st baseman with big-league dreams, he hoped to play professional baseball—but God had a different game plan.

He went on to Prairie View A&M University (PVAM), where he earned a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1957. More importantly, PVAM is where he met the love of his life, Joyce McCann. The two married the very same year, kicking off a 67-year adventure together that took them to Seattle, WA, where they raised their three daughters: Barbara, Marilyn, and Carolyn.

Robert began his professional life as an engineer at Boeing, spending more than 13 years designing electronic circuits and communication systems for airplanes, Minuteman missiles, and specifically the Boeing 737. He loved solving problems, but he loved serving people even more. His desire to serve led him to the Office of Personnel Management, where he spent 27 years helping workers navigate the complexities of federal employment.

And then there was his other “career”—his 46-year calling as President and CEO of the Northwest Baptist Federal Credit Union (NWBFCU), also known as Mt. Zion Baptist FCU. If engineering was work, and OPM was service, NWBFCU was pure joy. Robert believed deeply in strengthening financial stability within the Black community, and he poured his heart, creativity, and considerable charm into the credit union. Customer service was his superpower. Under his leadership, NWBFCU grew in assets, technology, and membership, eventually bringing multiple churches into a thriving consortium. One of his proudest accomplishments was founding Washington State’s first Youth FCU Outreach Program. The program gave high school students hands-on experience running a credit union—plus the chance to travel to national youth conferences. They even hosted a national conference in Seattle (1997). All thirteen founding youth members went on to college and beyond, a statistic Robert shared with glee.

NWBFCU’s Annual Meetings were the stuff of legend. We’re talking about luxury door prizes, cartoon caricatures, ice sculptures worthy of a cruise ship, live music, and soul food that made you want to unbutton your top collar. Every year, Robert planned what was essentially a banquet for 450 of his closest friends. His work in the credit union community earned him numerous honors, including two Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (1994 and 1995), the Annie Vamper Helping Hands Award (2001), and an induction into the African American Credit Union Hall of Fame (2016). For Robert, NWBFCU wasn’t a job - it was his ministry.

Beyond his professional legacy, RL was known for his big smile and even bigger generosity. Do a good deed, and there was a good chance you’d receive a box of hand-selected See’s chocolates as your “official reward.” His warmth flowed from his love of Christ and his lifelong commitment to doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God.

He was also a sci-fi fan of the highest order. He raised his daughters to be proud Star Trek fangirls and regularly rewrote the endings of TV shows—because in his mind, there was always room for improvement.

In 2020, Robert and Joyce packed up, sold their home, and headed to Bowie, MD, ready for one last adventure. His smile and storytelling quickly made him a favorite among new friends. To know RL was to know three things: he loved the Lord, he loved Joyce and his family, and he worked tirelessly to make the world better for the people he served.

Robert leaves behind three loving daughters—Mrs. Barbara Coston (Paul), Mrs. Marilyn Tolliver (Stan), and Ms. Carolyn Coleman—his sister Ms. Joan Bass, sisters-in-law Ms. Rose Hall and Ms. Pat McCann, grandchildren Dr. Coleman Tolliver (Catherine) and Ms. Sydney Tolliver, nieces Ms. Karen McClaine and Ms. Francine Robinson, and a host of other nieces, nephews, and lifelong friends who cherished him dearly.