Thomas A. Coates, Navy commander
Thomas A. Coates, born of Charles A. Coates and Lucile P. Coates, both deceased, died Wednesday, March 22, 2017, in Canon City, Colo. Thomas was born in Raleigh, N.C., Aug. 3, 1929, and graduated from high school in 1947. He joined the Navy in August 1947 as seaman recruit and retired as commander Oct. 1, 1977, with 30 years, one month and 13 days of service.
Thomas had an older sister, Grace L. Lewis, deceased.
Thomas and Janyce C. Coates were married in Belmont Shores, Calif., Nov. 8, 1952. This union resulted in daughter Marcia L., deceased; son Gregory A. Coates and wife Kathryn and daughter Hannah; daughter Christine LoBiondo; son David Conner and wife Dani and son Riley; daughter Elizabeth Jordan and husband Andrew and son Kaiden and daughter Catherine; and daughter Jessica Lobiondo.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to: woundedwarriorproject.org