Ralph Coats

RALPH COATSRalph Coats, age 93, formerly of Albion died Friday, December 29, 2006 at Tendercare of Marshall.Mr. Coats was born on February 23, 1913 in Eckford Township to Albert E. and Ethel L. (Dupes) Coats. He has been a life long resident of this area and attended the Albion Public Schools. On April 26, 1934, he married the former Ruth A. Bunday in Angola, Indiana. She preceded him death in January 1995.Ralph had been employed as a Heavy Equipment Operator for the Albion Division of the Calhoun County Road Commission, retiring in 1977. He also farmed. Other places of employment included the State Highway Commission, Consumers Power, and Hayes Machine Company.He was a member of the Marshall United Methodist Church and was a former member the Marshall Moose Lodge #676. In his youth, he enjoyed going deer hunting.He is survived by sons, Roland (Fern) Coats and Raymond (Shirley) Coats all of Marshall; grandchildren, Rhonda (Tim) McPherson, Stacy (Mark) Cutler, Ryan (Mindy) Coats and Kimberly Coats: 2 great grandchildren; sister, Ruth Gibson of Sturgis; brother, Gerald Coats of Marshall; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by brothers, Paul, Lloyd, Philip, Leonard and Arthur Coats; and sisters, Margaret Fountain, Marjorie Webber Laura Weaver, and Elsie Matheson.Visitation will be 2:00 to 4:00 and 6:00 to 8:00 Monday at the Craig K. Kempf Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held 10:30 am Tuesday at the funeral home with Reverend Len Schoenherr officiating. Interment will follow in Oakridge Cemetery. Friends who wish may make memorial contributions to the United Methodist Church or to the Verona Road Adult Foster Care. Assistance with memorials at the funeral home.