Thomas E Coates

View Video TributeThomas Eugene Coates, 80, retired teacher, retired Major with the U. S. Army, and resident of Union Place, died Tuesday, February 17, 2015 at Morning Pointe Assisted Living. Funeral services will be conducted Saturday at 3:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Rev. Tommy Vann officiating. Entombment will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens Mausoleum with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Friday from 4:00 - 7:00 P.M. and Saturday after 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to American Parkinson Disease Association, 135 Parkinson Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10305, Alzheimer's Association, 4825 Trousdale Drive, Suite 220, Nashville, TN 37220 or Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. The Hamilton County native was the son of the late Thomas Boyd Coates and Emma Reel Coates, both of whom were from Hamilton County. Major Coates retired from the United States Army after twenty-two years of service. He flew single engine aircraft, twin engine aircraft and helicopters. He served in both the Korean War and the Vietnam War. After retiring from the military, he taught Industrial Arts for eighteen years at Whitthorne Middle School. He was a member of the Columbia Seventh Day Adventist Church and the United Methodist Church. Survivors include his wife of fifty-eight years, Kathleen Akin Coates and their three children, Thomas Akin (Connie) Coates of Columbia; Cindy (Whit) Duncan of Orlando, Florida; and Andy (Kimberly) Coates of Columbia; grandchildren, Charlie Coates, Cassie Coates, Allie Duncan, Grace Duncan, Olivia Duncan, Addison Coates, and Andrew Coates; and great grandson, Wesley Coates; brother, James Coates of Virginia. He was preceded in death by grandson, William Ryan Coates. Active pallbearers will be Jim Huey, Kennith Vaughn, Jimmy Cranford, Donald Kincaid, Marion Davis, and Ronnie Sneed. Honorary pallbearers will include Dr. Charles Ball, Dr. Rodney Poling, Dr. Douglas Kennedy, and Morning Pointe staff & residents.