Jan. 61 to Jul. 62 Wheelus AFB Tripoli Libya
Aug. 62 to Aug. 64 Misawa AFB Japan
Sept. 64 to Aug. 65 Dover AFB DEL
Aug. 65 to Aug. 66 Korat AFB Thailand
Sept. 66 to Sept. 70 Torrejon AFB Spain
Sept. 70 to Aug. 71 Plattsburg AFB Thailand
Aug. 72 to Sept. 73 Davis- Monthan AFB AZ
Sept. 73 to Sept. 74 Utapiol AFB Thailand
Sept. 74 to Sept. 78 Bitburg AFB Germany
Sept.78 to Sept. 79 Kunsan AFB Korea
Sept. 79 to Sept. 80 Malmstrom AFB MT (Retired from USAF)
Jul.. 81 to Aug. 85 Civil Service at Malmstrom AFB MT as the Base Stock Control Officer
Aug. 85 to Oct. 88 Civil Service at Wright Patterson AFB OH for the International Logistics Center as case manger for country of Pakistan.
Oct. 88 to Jul. 98 Civil Service Malmstrom AFB MT as the Deputy Chief Of Supply.
Jul. 98 retired with 37 years total federal service.

Spent most of adult life in the military or working for the United States Air Force. Married Sara Elaine Parker Jan 61, had four children from marriage, Sandra, Michael, Robert and Eugene deceased. I was divorced Aug. 86. Married Kathy Jean Evenson Big Sheild Dec. 86, have one step son Harlan La Ray. All children are living on the East Coast. Have five grand-daughters and one grandson. Have been fighting a losing battle for several years with serious complication due to diabetes, lost left foot below the knee in January 2000. Overall health has significantly improved. Still learning to walk with new prosthesis.

Thomas A. `Tom' Coates

Thomas A. "Tom" Coates, 59, of Great Falls, Mont., and former Oberlin resident, died Jan. 4 at his home. He was born in Belvidere, Tenn. Mr. Coates graduated from Oberlin High School at the age of 16 and also attended Oberlin College. He served in the Air Force for 20 years and also worked 17 years as a civilian in the Air Force.

He retired from Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana as a deputy chief of supply. In 1986, he married Kathy Jean Big Shield in Ohio. He enjoyed fishing, movies and cooking. He also enjoyed writing short stories. Survivors include his wife; a daughter, Saundra Coates of Atlanta; sons Michael Coates of Atlanta and Robert Coates of Maryland; a stepson, Harlen Evenson of North Carolina; six grandchildren; his father, Ben Coates of Cleveland; sisters Paula Delaine of Lorain and Lula Lewis of Columbus, Ga.; and brothers Howard Austin of Columbia, S.C., and James Austin of Louisville, Ky.

He was preceded in death by a son, Eugene Michael Coates, in 1994; his mother, Lula Bell Austin, in 1955; and maternal and paternal grandparents. Funeral services were held Jan. 9 at the O'Connor Memorial Chapel in Great Falls, Mont. Burial was at the Montana State Veterans Cemetery in Helena, Mont. Memorials gifts may be made to MSU Northern, in care of Richard Decelles, SPCC, Box 398, Poplar, MT, 59255. >P>.

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