Katherine COATES

COATES, Katherine Burt Beale, 79, of Richmond, died on June 23, 2011. Born April 1, 1932 in Sparta, Caroline County, she was the daughter of Richard Lee Turberville Beale and Mary Macon Burt Beale. Following her graduation from Westhampton College of the University of Richmond and graduate work at Columbia University, she taught in local schools and maintained an active schedule as a chorister and soloist in a number of churches, the Richmond Opera Group, and the Richmond Choral Arts Society. In 1977, she returned to teaching after receiving her Master's degree in special education from Virginia Commonwealth University, eventually retiring from Henrico County Public Schools as a primary school counselor. She received her doctorate from the College of William and Mary in 1993 and maintained a private practice as a marriage and family therapist for seventeen years. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death in November, 2010 by her husband of 49 years, T. Carter Coates. She is survived by her children, Mary Coates Bennett, John Faber Bennett III, and Townes Carter Coates Jr.; her grandchildren, Erin Carter Bennett and Sarah Byrn Bennett; siblings Richard L.T. Beale III of Ruckersville and Barbara W. Beale of Sparta; as well as a host of family, friends, and colleagues. A memorial service will be held at Seventh Street Christian Church, 4101 Grove Avenue (at Malvern), Richmond, on Saturday, July 2, at 11 a.m. Along with her husband, Kay had great affection for the staff, clients, and fellow volunteers at Meals on Wheels. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial gifts to Meals on Wheels Serving Central Virginia, 1600 Willow Lawn Drive, Richmond, Va. 23230, or the Seventh Street Christian Church Week of Compassion program.


This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.