Judge Wade St. Clair Coates

Judge Wade St.Clair Coates, (Ret.), age 89 of Tazewell, Va., died Wed., Nov. 19, 2008 at Tazewell Community Hospital. Born June 8, 1919 at Halifax County, Va., he was a son of the late Thomas Felix Coates and Ella Wooding Carter Coates. He was a member of the Stras Memorial Episcopal Church in Tazewell, Va. Judge Coates received his Associate degree from Bluefield College, attended the University of Richmond, and received his Juris Doctor degree from the TC Williams School of Law in Richmond. While attending law school, World War II erupted and he enlisted to serve in the US Army Air Corps. After completing four years with the Army, he resumed his studies in law school and graduated in 1947. Judge Coates returned to Tazewell to practice law with the John Boggess Law Firm. He was elected as Commonwealth's Attorney in 1955 and served that office until being appointed to the bench in 1977 as the General District Court Judge. He retired in 1984, however he continued to serve the citizens of the Commonwealth as a Substitute Judge for several years. He was a member of the Tazewell American Legion, a charter member of Tazewell County Sportsman Club in Burkes Garden, Va., and a longtime member of the Tazewell Lions Club. He was named a Paul Harris Fellow by the Tazewell Rotary Club. Judge Coates was an avid fisherman and gardener who loved to share the things he grew, especially his pumpkins. In addition to parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Virginia Johnson Coates. Survivors include three daughters, Elizabeth "Betty" Rives Harrison and husband, James, of Annapolis, Md., Catherine Powell Jones and husband, Billy, and Anne Carter Coates, all of Tazewell, Va.; one brother, Townes Carter Coates of Richmond, Va.; two grandchildren, Elizabeth Payton Jones, Katherine St. Clair Jones, both of Tazewell, Va.; step granddaughter, Michelle Pressley of Tall Timber, Md.; and Wade and Virginia's special companion cats, Dot and Dash. Funeral services were conducted at 2:00 p.m. Mon., Nov. 24, 2008 at Stras Memorial Episcopal Church in Tazewell, Va., with the Rev. Russell Hatfield officiating. Burial was private. The family received friends at Peery & St.Clair Funeral Home in Tazewell, Va., from 6-9 p.m. Sun., Nov. 23, 2008. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to CVCA/LOLM White Christmas Program, P.O. Box 386, North Tazewell, VA 24630; PAWS, 186 Nature Lane, North Tazewell, VA 24630; or The Nature Conservancy, 4245 N Fairfax Drive Suite 100, Arlington, VA 22203.