Johan Thornton Coates, 85, of Frederick County, Virginia, died Saturday, September 12, 2015, at Winchester Medical Center.
Mrs. Coates was born in 1930 in Winchester, Virginia, the daughter of the late John A. and Nora H. Thornton.
She was a graduate of Handley High School, Class of 1949. She began working for the Handley Library shortly before graduation. She became Secretary and Treasurer of the Handley Board of Trustees in January 1960. Mrs. Coates retired from the Library in October 1991, after 42 years of service, but, continued to work for the Handley Board of Trustees until October of 2008. She, along with her husband, were owners of the Evergreen Christmas Tree Farm for 20 years.
Mrs. Coates was a member of Market Street United Methodist Church and a former member of Winchester Jaycee-etts and Winchester Quota Club. Her greatest joy was being with her family and friends.
She married Ralph E. Coates on February 7, 1951, in Winchester, Virginia.
Surviving with her husband are two daughters, Rinda C. Brown (Scott), Andi C. Davis (Bill); son, Ralph E. “Woody” Coates, Jr.; grandchildren, Clarissa Brown, Cohen Davis, Samantha Coates, Demien Fran, Chris Schuster, Leslie Schuster; six great grandchildren and her sister, Jeanne Pipes.
Her son, Todd Coates and two sisters, Mary T. Malone and Phyllis T. Walters, preceded her in death.
The family will receive friends on Thursday evening from 6:00-8:00 PM at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel.
A funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Friday at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. Interment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park, Frederick County, Virginia.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Lung Association, ALA-VA, c/o Kira Koon, 9702 Gayton Road, #110, Richmond, VA 23238, memo: In memory of Johan Coates.