William “Bill” Orville Coates, 80, of Davie County N.C. joined our Heavenly Father on April 20th, 2021. He is preceded by his parents, George Frederick Coates and Mary Margaret Laderoute Coates as well as his son, Rick Cox, his brothers, Jack “John” Coates, Danny Coates, his grandchildren, Billy Perdue, Anthony Burke, and his great-great grandchild, Gabriella Perdue.
Known among his parents and siblings as “Jerry”, he was born on December 15th, 1940, in Riverview MI, and grew up in the city of Wyandotte, approximately 11 miles south of Detroit. The prankster of the family, among his misadventures, he once stashed 200 garter snakes in his bedroom. His mother had no doubt of the culprit when she spotted a number of them winding their way through the banister on their way downstairs.
Bill graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School before entering the service of the US Air Force. True to his middle name, he enjoyed working on all aspects and types of aircraft. Upon being Honorably Discharged, he tried a number of jobs, including offshore oil rigs. Ultimately he returned to that which he loved, workin on aircraft for over 30 yrs before retiring from US Airlines in 2002.
Above all, Bill was a loving, devoted husband and soulmate to his wife of 46 years, Patricia Coates. To those who knew them, Patty and Bill always showed a fierce Love and Devotion to one another. Never more content than at her side, he would sit in the parking lot while she got her nails done awaiting her return.
Bill will always be remembered as a devoted Catholic, and well loved Father, Brother, Uncle, and Grandfather. He loved to fish, travel, and forge his own path to adventures of his own making, or “getting lost” among the forests of Canada. He loved and respected all things in nature, from the mountains to the ocean, and all creatures great and small.
Those who remain to cherish and honor his memory go well beyond those mentioned here, but include his loving wife of 46 years, Patricia Coates, his sons, Danny Cox and wife Lorry, of OH, Mike Cox of N.C., David Cox and wife Debbie of OH, Larry Cox of OH, Richard Coates and wife Cathy of N.C., daughters Tammy Perdue and partner Dotson of N.C., Loretta Owens and wife of Perry who also preceded Bill, Regenia Kendrick of N.C., brother, Fred Coates of MA, sisters Loretta Lizak and husband Michael of MI, Mary Lou Coates of MI, 22 grandchildren, 32 great-Grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren.
The family will receive family and friends on Thursday, April 29th, 2021 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Davie Funeral Service Chapel, 416 Valley Rd, Mocksville, N.C., with a funeral mass on Friday, April 30th, 2021 at 11:00 AM at Holy Family Catholic Church, 4820 Kinnamon Rd, Winston Salem, N.C. The burial will follow at Rose Cemetery, 200 Cemetery St, Mocksville, N.C. Father James Stuhrenberg will officiate.
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