http://www.kirksvilledailyexpress.com/obituaries/x702341802/Dr-Thomas-Ripley-Coates

Kirksville, Mo. -

Dr. Thomas Ripley Coates
1942 – 2009

Dr. Thomas Ripley Coates, 67, of Kirksville, Missouri, passed away unexpectedly, Thursday (June 11, 2009) at his home.

The son of James Otis and Shirley Jane (Ripley) Coates, he was born February 16, 1942 in Cincinnati, Ohio. His parents preceded him in death.

Dr. Coates is survived by one daughter, Victoria Yyu Coates of Peoria, IL; one brother, James H. Coates of Jackson, MO; one sister and brother-in-law, Virginia (Coates) and Will Barrett of Tucson, AZ; two nieces, Joan R. Coates of Columbia, MO and Jean (Coates) Lewis and husband David of St. Louis, MO and one nephew, Andy Coates and wife Tammy of Jackson, MO.

Dr. Coates was a graduate from Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, Ohio and graduated from Princeton University, subsequently acquiring Ph.D’s in Spanish, French and German. He retired with honor and distinction from the language department at Truman State University in 2007.

He was an avid student of chess and had acquired his “expert rating” in the field of ham radio.

It was Dr. Coates wish to be cremated and a memorial service in his memory will be held at a later date.

Since God gave us little creatures on earth to make our lives more fore filled, memorials in lieu of flowers may be made to Field of Dreams Rescue of Kirksville.

Arrangements were taken care of by Travis-Noe Funeral Home of Kirksville, and memorials may be left at or mailed to Travis~Noe Funeral Home, 1008 Potter Avenue, Kirksville, Missouri, 660-665-1300