Edward Coates Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

EDWARD R. COATES departed this life unexpectedly on Saturday, February 20, 2021, in Baltimore, Maryland, at 88 years of age, after a short illness. He was born to Arthur Coates and Annie Mae Coates on September 14, 1932, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a faithful and dedicated member of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church in Baltimore, Maryland. Edward is survived by his loving wife of nearly 70 years, Anna Marie Coates; four children, Deborah Coates, Angela Lloyd (Alan), Larry Coates (Angela), and Carol Zollicoffer (Thurman); eight grandchildren, Michael Taylor (Monique), William Coates, Carl Coates, Shawnté Stevenson, Antoinette Coates, Victoria George (Jeremiah), Shaneequah Coates, and Thurman Zollicoffer, III; five great-grandchildren, Ariel Craig, Jada Coates, Isaiah Taylor, Karleigh Coates, and Christian Williams; a devoted niece, Phyllis Lane (Richard); and a host of other relatives and friends. After completing his formal education in the Baltimore City Public School System, Edward enlisted in the U.S. Army, bravely serving as an infantryman in the Korean War from 1950 until 1953. Believing firmly that his sacrifices would improve the lives of his children, grandchildren, and future generations, Edward faithfully carried out his military duties with distinction during a time when he had not yet been afforded the full blessings of liberty in segregated America. He earned several prestigious military honors, including the American Spirit Honor Medal, Combat Infantry Badge, United Nations Service Medal, and two Bronze Stars for valor. Never one to let the grass grow under his feet, Edward quickly secured a job at Bethlehem Steel in Sparrows Point, Maryland, after completing his military service. In that job, he continued his tradition of service to America as a member of a team that manufactured steel for automobiles, ships, aircraft, and other products that American companies sold worldwide. He ended his forty-two-year career with Bethlehem Steel as a technical operations coordinator and was affectionately known as “Boss Round” and “Coates” by his colleagues in Blast Furnace L. After retiring, he frequently traveled with his wife, Anna, and their travel club friends. They took annual cruises to the Caribbean and a few trips per year to their favorite place, Las Vegas. An eternal optimist, he always looked as if he was winning at casinos in Las Vegas (and Atlantic City), even when he wasn’t. One of Edward’s favorite pastimes was hanging out with his friends at “The Club,” which was a mancave before the term mancave existed. Forever the innovators, more than 40 years ago, he and his friends pitched-in to rent a house where they could watch sports, crack jokes, and occasionally have an adult beverage or two in a safe space away from their loving wives. Although the location has changed a few times over the years, The Club still exists and Edward continued to go there several times per week to meet up with his friends until he became ill. The Coates family is deeply grateful to the members of The Club, who provided camaraderie, friendship, and joy to Edward for so much of his life. At home, he was a loving, generous, and committed husband, father, grandfather, and neighbor. His dear wife, who he playfully called “Snooty,” was the center of his world. Edward embraced the mantra, “Happy Wife, Happy Life,” always going the extra mile to make her smile. When she complained about him watching boring baseball games, he added a second TV to their bedroom so she could watch Westerns while he tuned-in to his beloved O’s. When she encountered a few health challenges, he devotedly waited on her hand-and-foot. He did the grocery shopping for the family and was the “Coupon King.” He knew when and where to shop in the Baltimore-area to find the best deals on food. He never admitted it, but bargain shopping evolved from a chore to a sport for him after retirement. He loved the hunt for low prices. To stay abreast of local and national current events and grocery store sales, he read the Baltimore Sun from cover-to-cover each day, neatly folding it into quarters after finishing each section. In retirement, like every other phase of his life, Edward was committed to giving more to the world than he took from it. He served as an officer on the Whittier-Monroe Neighborhood Association until his passing. While others complained about Baltimore’s problems and did nothing to solve them, Edward dedicated his time and energy to making conditions better by serving as a leader of his neighborhood association. He took his role as the patriarch of the family seriously. He regularly imparted life lessons to his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. For the males of the family, he stressed that excuses were for the weak and emphasized the importance of bravery, thrift, and personal accountability. For the females, the lessons were similar but focused more on self-reliance and never depending on a man for their physical or financial security. We all miss Edward’s fatherly wisdom, infectious smile, gleeful laugh, and zest for life. His spirit lives on in everyone who he loved and loved him. Edward Coates is preceded in death by his parents, Arthur Coates and Annie Mollison; children, Richard Coates, Edward Coates, Jr., William Coates, Carl Coates and Linda Wooden (William); and siblings, Joseph Coates, James Coates, George Coates, Harry Coates, Wilbur Coates and Angela Eleanor Arter.

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Edward Coates

September 14, 1932 - February 20, 2021