William "Bill" L. Coates, Sr. (lebanon)'s Obituary
William “Bill” Leonard Coates, Sr., son of James L. and Gertrude L. Finley Coates, was born January 9, 1942, in Waynesville, Missouri. He departed this life Wednesday, July 1, 2015, at his home, near Lebanon, Missouri, at the age of seventy-three years, five months, and twenty-two days.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Travis Coates; and a brother, Leslie J. Coates.
Bill is survived by a daughter, Mary Alison Shannon, and her husband, David, of West Plains, Missouri; a son, William L. Coates, Jr., and his wife, Beth, of West Plains, Missouri; four grandchildren, Johnathan Willis, and his wife, Heather, Joshua Willis, and his wife, Tiana, Jennifer Shannon, and Paige Coates; as well as a host of other relatives and friends.
He was born and raised in the Waynesville area, and graduated from Waynesville High School. He then entered the United States Army as a young man, and served a few years before joining the United States Navy. In 1962, he married and began a family. He continued to serve in the United States Navy for over twenty years, and served two tours of duty in Vietnam. He was stationed stateside in Albuquerque and Memphis, and taught in Navy Aviation School. He retired and moved to West Plains, Missouri, where he worked in a pig farming operation. In 1987, he moved to Lebanon and was manager of Gas Plus from 1987 until 1997. He later worked for Marathon Electric for five years.
Bill had made his profession of belief in Christ and followed the Baptist faith.
He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, and was very proud of his military service. In his spare time he enjoyed visiting with his friends, going to car races, working in his shop, and tinkering with cars.
Bill was a loving father, grandfather, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and know that his family and friends will treasure the wonderful memories he made for them during his seventy-three years.
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