Margaret Coate

Margaret Patricia “Pat” Coate, 86, of Bellefontaine, Ohio passed away at Riverside Methodist Hospital In Columbus, Ohio, Monday, March 14, 2011. Pat was born July 30, 1924, to Walter and Julia (Toomey) Burke in Springfield, Ohio, and moved to Bellefontaine in 1926. She graduated from Bellefontaine High School in 1942 and was employed as a secretary for the Agricultural Adjustment Administration for ten years after graduation. She also was the bookkeeper for the Coate Dental Laboratory.

She married William T. “Bill” Coate June 21, 1952, and he preceded her in death in February 2001.

As a longtime member of St. Patrick Catholic Church, she was involved in the CL of C’s and Bazaar Ladies. She and her husband were former BHS Booster members and she was a longtime sports enthusiast who followed her children’s and grandchildren’s activities.

She is survived by her children, Julia (Reagan) Kennedy and Thomas (Mitzi) Coate both of Bellefontaine, Kathleen (Albert) Ortiz of Columbus, Ohio, Doug (Julie) Coate of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Diane (Howard) Slutsky of Gahanna, Ohio; grandchildren, Sharyn McNeil, William (Jenny) Kennedy, Megan (Tony) Kennedy Grose, Mary (Nathan) Madison, Margaret Smith, Kylene and Seth Coate, Mackenzie Burke Ortiz, Connor Patrick and Jack Walter Slutsky; step grandchildren, Logan and Jayel Newell and Wyatt Neill; and five great grandchildren.

Rev. Patrick Sheridan will celebrate a funeral mass at 10:30 A.M. Friday, March 18, 2011, at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Bellefontaine. Calling hours are Thursday, March 17, 2011, from 2 to 4 P.M. and 6 to 8 P.M. at the Eichholtz Funeral Home in Bellefontaine, where a Rosary service will be held at 3:30 P.M. Interment will follow the mass in the Bellefontaine Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the St. Vincent DePaul Society 328 E. Patterson Ave. Bellefontaine, OH 43311 or the Medication Assistance Program at Mary Rutan Hospital 205 E. Palmer Ave. Bellefontaine, OH 43311

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