Socorro Coates

Socorro T. Coates

March 6, 1926 ~ February 24, 2017

Cora Coates has gone to join her soul mate, Vincent.  She left this world on February 24, 2017 in Ogden, Utah.

Cora was born Socorro Macias Tubojan at Dauin, on the Philippine Island of Negros Oriental, to Melania Tubojan and Quirino Salomia on March 6, 1926.  She grew up on a plantation until she moved to Manila to attend school at 9 years old.  She survived World War II in Manila as a teenager, where she was poked by Japanese bayonets and was twice knocked down by shrapnel from bombs.

She married her boss on October 26, 1946, while she was a secretary in the G3 Section, US Army.

Vincent Coates was a Major and Provost Marshall at the time in the Guerilla Affairs Division.  She and Vince had three children then they moved to Ogden, Utah in 1960.

Cora returned to work in 1963 at IRS.  The family moved to Clark AFB in the Philippines during the Vietnam War, where she worked in Civil Service from 1965 to 1967.  The family returned to Utah where she worked at Hill AFB from1967 to 1976.

They lived mostly in Ogden, and built a second home in St. George where they wintered for 19 years.

They loved bridge, golfing, and their family; and Cora became a bingo and card playing ninja.  She attended St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ogden, St. George Catholic Church where she sang in the choir, and she was a founding parishioner at Holy Family Catholic Church in Ogden.

After almost 50 years of happy marriage, Vince passed away of cancer in 1996 in San Diego.  After his death, Cora returned to Ogden.  She missed him intensely and for two decades she spoke of joining him in Heaven.

Cora was widely recognized as one of the most kind, loving, generous, and caring people that one could ever meet.  Her life was dedicated to her family and her faith.

Cora is survived by her three children, Cheryl of San Diego, Ted of Ogden, and Don (Vicky) of San Diego.  She is also survived by her ten grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.  The world has truly lost a great woman and she will always be adored.

Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, March 4, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Holy Family Catholic Church, 1100 East 5550 South, South Ogden, followed by a reception at Cora’s home, 856 East 5500 South, South Ogden  Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to Holy Family Catholic Church.