Obituary for Carl Coates

Carl W. Coates, born July 22, 1923, in Ponca City, Oklahoma, to Floyd L. and Ruth (Bonnell) Coates, both teachers.

A visitation with the family present will be held from 7:00 – 9:00 PM on Friday, April 25, 2014 at Trout Funeral Home & CrematoryGraveside funeral services will be held at 2:30PM on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at Resthaven Memorial Parks with Tom Howard Officiating.

To finance an expensive education for his deaf son, Floyd Coates ran for and won the office of Kay County Superintendent, which he held for 12 years. The family moved to Newkirk, OK. When Carl was six, he was sent for six years to Central Institute for the Deaf in St. Louis, Missouri., to learn speech and lip-reading.

Carl graduated in 1942 from Newkirk High School. During World War II, Carl served a six-year apprenticeship in printing at The Ponca City News in Ponca City. He was employed there 46 years before retiring in 1988. He was married in 1947 to former classmate, Eleanor Smith, in Omaha, Nebraska. They reconnected at the Central Institute for Deaf Reunion after twelve years of no contact.

Survivors include two sons: Carl Victor and Marilyn Coates of Ponca City and Richard (Dick) and Barbara Coates of Altus, Oklahoma. Three granddaughters: Lindsey Coates of Phoenix, Arizona; Courtney Thomas and husband Brad of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Chelsea Walters and husband Coty of Edmond, Oklahoma. Two Great Grandchildren Crew Thomas of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and Remington Walters, of Edmond, Oklahoma.

Carl served as deacon and elder of the First Presbyterian Church and later treasurer of the Good Samaritan Sunday School Class at the First United Methodist Church both in Ponca City. He was widely sought to perform pantomime acts at civic organizations. Participating with his sons and their neighbors, Carl was YMCA coach during the Little League Days.

For his contribution of time and support to the community of Ponca City, he received in 2000 Service to Mankind Awards form the Ponca City Sertoma Club. He spend over 3,000 hours of voluntary work at the Ponca City Hospital.

Carl and Eleanor enjoyed traveling to Europe, Alaska, and Caribbean Seas. With each of their hearing dogs, Ashley and Sierra, they traveled to four corners of the United States by car and airplane.

In 2000, they moved to Epworth Villa Retirement Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. They joined the Quail Springs United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City.

Survivors include a sister, Dorothy Pataky, of Riverside, California, and several nephews and nieces.

Preceding Carl in death was his parents and brother Frank Coates, of Tonkawa, Oklahoma.

In lieu of flowers, please remember Carl with a memorial donation to the Central Institute for the Deaf, Coates-Smith Endowed School Fund, 825 South Taylor Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110.

Source: Trout Funeral Home