William “Abe” Clayton Coates, 82, went to be with the Lord September 2, 2012. He was born in Madison, Virginia to the late William E. and Lucy Covington Coates and served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War; Abe was a 1957 graduate of Virginia Tech; he was captain of the basketball team and was honored as one of the nation’s top rebounders. He was a Government Teacher at Oscar Smith High School; served as the Head Basketball Coach and retired as the Assistant Principal after 38 years of service; and was also a member of First Baptist Church of Norfolk.
Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 52 years, Gayle Ainsley Coates; his daughter, Ann Coates Cherry and her husband, Chuck; grandson, Caleb Cherry; sister, Frances Thornhill; and brothers, Hugh, Delma, Paul and John Coates.
A service to celebrate his life will be held Friday, September 7, 2012 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church of Norfolk. He will be laid to rest at Chesapeake Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Graham Funeral Home on Thursday from 7 to 8:30 pm. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to First Baptist Church of Norfolk, 312 Kempsville Road, Norfolk, VA 23502 or the Union Mission Ministries, P O Box 3203, Norfolk, VA, 23514. Please visit his book of memories at www.grahamfuneralhome.com to leave a note to the family.

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