Obituary for William Coates William M. “Bill” Coates, beloved husband, father, veteran, chemist, and ambulatory encyclopedia of jokes passed away on Friday, May 4th, 2018 at the age of 93. Following a childhood during the Great Depression, and service in the Army’s 104th division during World War II, Bill had a long and distinguished career as a chemist, and was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He was seen to his eternal rest surrounded by family, including his steadfast wife of 56 years, Mary Ellen.
Born July 8th, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Elizabeth (Mulford) and Wendell Coates, Bill served several roles in World War II in the European theater, ranging from rifleman, to engineer, to post-war manager of an enlisted man’s club. After the war, he attended Villanova University, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. He worked at Merck Sharp and Dohme before moving to Evansville in 1956 to take a position with Mead Johnson and Co. As Associate Director of the Pilot Plant at Mead Johnson, which later became Bristol Myers, Bill worked on the scale-up of emerging pharmaceutical products, and was the co-discoverer of an important class of oxidation agents that gained widespread use in chemical synthesis.
It was here, 4 years into his 33-year career he met Mary Ellen Greubel, whom he would marry in 1961. After Bill’s retirement in 1989 the two traveled extensively to many locales around the world with the Colton Group. Bill served in educational roles and as a Eucharistic minister at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church where he was a long-time parishioner.
He had a love for books and reading, especially science-fiction. Bill loved the outdoors and making things grow. Over the years he naturalized hundreds of daffodils around their home and woods, and each spring they put on a show in a tribute to his efforts.
Bill had a wonderful sense of humor, which allowed him to easily make and keep friends, including a cadre of coworkers who have remained inseparable to this day. He will be missed dearly and immensely by his family and friends; daughter Kristine Coates of Bloomington, Indiana; son Geoffrey Coates and wife Sabine and their children Ian, Louisa and Trevor of Lansing, New York; son David Coates and wife Heather and their daughter Evelyn of Indianapolis, Indiana; niece Kim Barron and husband Chris and their son Sam of Evansville, Indiana; nephew Greg Layman and son Austin of Indianapolis, Indiana. And, of course, the love of his life, Mary Ellen.
He was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Barbara Jean Layman. Visitation will be from 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Friday May 11th at Ziemer Funeral Home North Chapel (6300 N. First Avenue, Evansville, IN 47710) where a Memorial Service will begin at 6 pm. Visitation will continue from 9:30 am to 10:00 am Saturday, May 12 at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, (918 W. Mill Rd.
, Evansville, IN 47710). A Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 10:00 am with Fr. Jason Gries officiating.
Entombment at St. Joseph’s Cemetery will follow. Memorial contributions can be made to Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, House of Bread and Peace (250 E. Chandler Ave. , Evansville, IN 47713) and the Tri-State Food Bank (801 E Michigan St., Evansville, IN 47711).
The family wishes to express their appreciation to Units 3500 and 3900 at Deaconess Hospital for their care of Bill. Condolences may be made online at www. ziemerfuneralhome.com To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of William Coates please visit our Sympathy Store.
Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 MAY 11. 03:00 PM – 07:00 PM Ziemer Funeral Home – North Chapel 6300 N First Ave Evansville, IN, US, 47710 info@ziemerfuneralhome.com www. ziemerfuneralhome.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before William’s Visitation begins.
Memorial 2018 MAY 11. 06:00 PM Ziemer Funeral Home – North Chapel 6300 N First Ave Evansville, IN, US, 47710 info@ziemerfuneralhome.com www. ziemerfuneralhome.com Order Flowers for the Memorial Service Guaranteed delivery before William’s Memorial Service begins.
Visitation 2018 MAY 12. 09:30 AM – 10:00 AM Holy Redeemer Catholic Church 918 W. Mill Rd. Evansville, IN, US, 47710 Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before William’s Visitation begins.
Mass of Christian Burial 2018 MAY 12. 10:00 AM Holy Redeemer Catholic Church 918 W. Mill Rd. Evansville, IN, US, 47710 Order Flowers for the Mass of Christian Burial Guaranteed delivery before William’s Mass of Christian Burial begins.
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