Theodore S. Coberly

1921 - 2011

Theodore S. Coberly, 90, a retired U.S. Air Force brigadier general, passed away Saturday, March 26, 2011. Burial: Gen. Coberly will be buried at 9 a.m. Monday, July 18, in Arlington National Cemetery. A memorial service was held April 1 in Monroe, Ohio. Tobias Funeral Home Far Hills Chapel has been in charge of arrangements. Gen. Coberly was born in Morgantown, W.Va., on Feb. 18, 1921, and was the son of James G.B. Coberly and Edith Simpson Coberly. He attended Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, W.Va., and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1959. He entered military service as an aviation cadet in the U.S. Army Air Corps in August 1942 and received his pilot wings and commission as second lieutenant in June 1943. During World War II, he served primarily as an instructor at the Advanced Instructors School at Foster Field, Texas, and was director of gunnery training at Matagorda Island. During the Korean War, Gen. Coberly served with the 344th Fighter Interceptor Squadron where he was credited with shooting down two MIGs and became the 344th's squadron commander. Later, Gen. Coberly served as a test pilot, commanded the 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing at Alconbury, England, and served with the Organization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as deputy director for operations, National Military Command Center. In his final assignment, Gen. Coberly was named director of reconnaissance and electronic warfare, in the Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff, Research and Development. He was a graduate of the Air War College. His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star Medal, Air Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters. Upon his retirement in July 1972, Gen. Coberly assumed executive positions in the defense industry. At the age of 59 he entered law school where he was elected to the Law Review and received his J.D. from Western State University College of Law in May 1982. He was admitted to the California Bar. He was predeceased by a daughter, Margaret Anne Coberly. Survivors: His wife of 70 years, Margaret K. Koon Coberly of Monroe, Ohio; sons, Lt. Col. Camden A. Coberly II (Judy) of Fort Worth and Col. Theodore R. Coberly (Jan) of Spotsylvania, Va.; daughter, Kathleen C. Stewart (Scott) of Batavia, Ohio; grandchildren, Colter B. Coberly (Deanna) of Providence Village, Texas, Carolyn H. Coberly of Kabul, Afghanistan, Theodore H. Coberly (Beth) of Zebulon, N.C., Kathleen S. McPeek (Kevin) of Milford, Ohio, and Margaret Len Martin (Jim) of West Chester, Ohio; and six great-grandchildren.