Ray was born the third son of Isaac L. Coates and Blanche Elizabeth Rutledge Coates on August 6, 1918 in Baileyton, Tennessee. He moved to Halifax County when he was 18 years old.

Ray was a World War II Veteran who joined the fight in Europe in the 7th Army Division. He participated in the Battle of the Bulge and served in England, France, Belgium, Holland, Luxembourg, and Germany. He drove a half track during his service in Europe. Prior to his passing, Ray was the second oldest living World War II Veteran in Halifax County and was honored as the Veteran of the Month by the Roanoke Valley Veteran’s Museum in August of 2014. After he was discharged in 1945, he worked in the logging business and then retired from Exxon in 1984.

Ray was very active until the time of his death.  He loved to garden and spend time with his family.   He was a devout Christian and a faithful member of Weldon Pentecostal Holiness Church.  He will be missed by everyone who knew him.

Ray was preceded in death by his loving wife of 61 years, Dorothy Carlile Coates, with whom he was blessed with three daughters.  He had six siblings who predeceased him: Ralph Coates, Ruby Hicks, Eula C. Tillery; Ilene C. Tillery; Opal C. Raynor and Billy Wayne Coates.

He is survived by two sisters, Thelma Maness and Lois C. Clary and husband, Robert Clary, and many nieces and nephews.

He is also survived by his daughters, Brenda Coates Wilson and husband, V. Barry Wilson, Rita Coates Freuler and husband, Thomas Freuler, and Elaine Coates Moore and husband, Garry E. Moore; his grandchildren: Barry Scott Wilson and Angie Cooke, Thomas Freuler, III and wife, Summer Freuler, Holly Wilson and husband, Robert Swindells, Heather Moore Acree, Kevin Moore and wife, Sammie Moore, and Brandon Moore and Ashely May.

He was blessed with many great-grandchildren: Scott Swindells, Elizabeth Swindells, Alexa Swindells, Brenna Swindells, Marissa Swindells, Ethan Swindells, Dalton Freuler, Korie Freuler, Kenadi Freuler, Siarra Freuler, Savanna Freuler, Oakleigh Freuler, Logan Freuler, Chloe Moore, Skyler Moore, and Nathaniel Acree.

He is survived by many special friends, including Hazel Burnip, and his sister-in-law, Myrtle Coates.

Hockaday Funeral Home in Roanoke Rapids is handling the arrangements where the family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 13, 2015 and at other times at 708 Raleigh Drive, Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870

Funeral Services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday March 14, 2015, at Hockaday Funeral Home with Rev. Wayne White officiating. Burial will follow at Cedarwood Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com.