Jerry COATES

1933 - 2016

COATES, Jerry
Mr. Jerry Coates, 82, of West Palm Beach, FL, passed away on Tuesday, February 2, 2016 at the West Palm Beach V.A. Medical Center. He was the long-time companion of Sonia Rudo, also of West Palm Beach, FL. Born November 6, 1933 in Minneapolis, MN, Jerry was the son of the late George Washington Coates and Anna Coates (née Gorman). Jerry joined the US Navy in 1952 and served seven years until 1959, He then re-enlisted into the US Air Force 1959 and served for fourteen-years until retiring in 1973 as a Master Sergeant. For most of Jerry's service he was stationed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center (WMARC) in Washington, DC. After retiring from the military, Jerry managed the histopathology laboratory at the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in Richmond, VA where he worked from 1973 to 1990. Jerry retired from VCU and retired to West Palm Beach, FL in 1995 with his long-time companion Sonia Rudo. Jerry was preceded in death by his parents; sister Florence Tutila of Minneapolis, MN; and ex-wife Hazel I. Coates. Jerry is survived by his long-time companion Sonia Rudo; his sons Scott and Stephen Coates; grandchildren Brian, Stephanie, Matthew, and Daniel Coates; and great-grandchildren Autumn Coates and Jamie Aberle-Rouch. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00AM on Friday, May 13, 2016 at the Baltimore National Cemetery.
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