Kent Michael Kolman's Obituary
Kent Michael Kolman, age 62, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2026. He was born on March 20, 1964, in Kansas City, Missouri to the late Roland Henry Kolman Jr. and Mimi (Izzard).
Kent grew up in numerous locations as an adolescent, including Ashland, Ohio, Upper Arlington, Ohio and West Berlin, New Jersey, where he graduated from Eastern High School in 1982. Kent was an incredibly talented musician and excelled at the drums while in high school, which started a lifetime love of music and performing. While studying at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, Kent was a stalwart member of the SMU Marching Band and a proud member of the Kappa Alpha Order before graduating with a Marketing degree from the Cox School of Business in 1986.
After graduating from SMU, Kent embarked on a business career in Dallas, working in sales and marketing at various consumer products companies throughout a 20+ year career. Always a gregarious salesman, he could strike up a conversation with anyone and was able to gain trust and confidence with all types of people who could easily identify with him. The social side of a salesman led to Kent having many good friends and finding the company of others very enjoyable.
Kent also continued to further his musical career by “gigging” with a variety of bands in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, sometimes playing up to five nights a week. Kent’s own musical tastes varied from classic rock to jazz and everything in-between. He played in bands whose styles varied from honky-tonk, rock, jazz, rock-a-billy, funk and even country music. His drumming style was that of a “loud” drummer, who loved to add various rhythmic “accents”, while keeping the solid beat, enabling him to emulate his all-time drumming heroes, Simon Phillips and Buddy Rich.
While building his business career and all the drumming, Kent met Beth Mohler in 1993, who was the perfect complement to his life that he was lacking. Kent and Beth were married on April 20, 1996, and lived in Richardson, Texas since 1999. The couple were ideal “dog parents” having adopted countless shelter dogs over the years, who all became very spoiled and overly loved. Kent’s other passions included American muscle cars of the 60s and 70s, Texas Rangers baseball, the SMU Mustangs, WWII history, and, again, his extensive network of friends, both near and far.
Kent also dealt with a variety of medical and health issues throughout his life, starting at age 5 with the diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, which was a constant, life-long battle. Always a courageous fighter, Kent was fiercely independent and kept his health issues close to the vest, only opening up to his closest friends and family.
To those who knew him, Kent was a unique person, who marched to his own beat (pun intended). He will be forever in our hearts.
Kent will be greatly missed by his devoted wife Beth of Richardson, Texas, brother Ted Kolman (Clair) of Lantana, Texas, his niece Caroline and nephew Whitaker and an army of friends and acquaintances.
Celebration of Life – June 6, 2026, 4pm – Canyon Creek Country Club, Richardson, Texas. Please RSVP to tedkolman@yahoo.com.
Memorial contributions in Kent’s honor may be made to the Dallas Area Diabetic Adults support group: http://www2.breakthrought1d.org/goto/TeamDADA.
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