John Phillip Coate Sr's Obituary
John Phillip Coate, Sr. was born February 12, 1942 in Marion, Indiana but was raised in St. Petersburg, Florida where he graduated in 1959 from Northeast High School. After attending Frankfort Pilgrim Bible College and Southern Pilgrim Wesleyan College he served four years in the U.S. Air Force, but then began his lifelong career in the bread industry. He started out with Ward Bakery as a Route Salesman and ended an illustrious forty-one years with Flowers Baking Company, working his way up to Plant President. In 1990 he was selected to open the brand new state of the art bakery in Bradenton where he remained until he retired in 2005. In December 2021 the Flowers Training Center was dedicated to him in honor of his huge contribution to the success of this innovative plant. When not working his love for sports was evident. He was proud to have been chosen to umpire the Pittsburgh Pirates & Chicago White Sox professional baseball teams in 1978 during the umpire strike. He also coached and umpired his kids’ baseball & football teams and served as Commissioner of Cross Bayou Little League Sports Complex. He was an avid Notre Dame and Chicago Cubs fan all his life and traveled to attend many, many games including the Cubs last World Series win. But nothing surpassed his unending love for his entire family and his greatest love was Dottie, his wife of 55 years and his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He was a member of Sarasota Trinity Church of the Nazarene where he faithfully served in many capacities and was recognized with a Distinguished Service Award in February 2022.
He is preceded in death by his mother Mabel Ruth Coate and father William Marion Coate, his brother Robert Williams, son John Coate, Jr. and grandson Blake Jones. He is survived by his loving wife Dorothy Coate and five remaining children Mike Jones (Sue), Vickie Griffis (Randy), Tom Jones (Daphne), Frank Coate (Heather), Airetta Fox (Randy). Also his siblings William Coate (Mary), Virginia Stucky (Ed), Paul Coate (Dana). And adored thirteen grandchildren, and nine great grandchildren and many loving nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services will be held Monday, December 4, 2023 at Sarasota Trinity Church of the Nazarene, 3101 Wilkinson Road, North Sarasota, Florida at 10:00 AM - Viewing at 9:30 AM. In lieu of flowers donations may be made in his honor to American Cancer Society, American Heart Association or The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention https://afsp.org/
What’s your fondest memory of John?
What’s a lesson you learned from John?
Share a story where John's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with John you’ll never forget.
How did John make you smile?
