Homer Lee Coates

LINWOOD | Homer Lee Coates, 86, of Lakeview Church Road, died Friday, May 12, 2006, at Rowan Regional Medical Center. The funeral will be at 4 p.m. Monday at Greer's Chapel United Methodist Church, where he was a charter member, by the Revs. Darren Alexander and Jimmy Myers. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with military graveside rites by the U.S. Army and Randolph County Honor Guard. Mr. Coates was born March 25, 1920, in Davidson County to Charlie Henderson Coates Sr. and Ida Belle Loflin Coates. He was a 1939 graduate of Churchland High School and retired from the N.C. Finishing Co. after 45 years of service. Mr. Coates served as a sergeant NCO in Company F, 109th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army during World War II. He began his service in February 1942 and participated in the Battle of Rhineland and the Central European Campaign, He received the American Theater Service Medal, the European Theater Service Medal, two Bronze Stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He was honorably discharged from military service in October 1945. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his wife, Montise Hilton Coates. Surviving are one son, Tim Coates and his wife, Lisa, of Linwood; one grandson, Christopher Coates; and a sister, Frances Leonard of Lexington. The family will receive friends following the service in the church fellowship hall and other times at the home of his son on Jubilee Road. Memorials may be made to Greer's Chapel United Methodist Church, 8195 Old Salisbury Road, Linwood, NC 27299. Piedmont Funeral Home is serving the family.