CHAPIN David Kelly Coates passed away on Monday, April 20, 2015, due to complications from lung cancer. He was born on August 25, 1936 in Culpeper, Va. to Ross & Laura Fincham Coates, in their then home located at the corner of East Street and E. Culpeper Street in downtown Culpeper. While attending Culpeper High School he was a three-sport Letterman (Football, Baseball, and Track), and in 1952 was a member of the school’s only undefeated football team. After graduating high school he accepted a football scholarship to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a running back. He was the first in his family to attend college. After sustaining concussion injuries during his freshman year at the University of North Carolina, as a sophomore he transferred to the University of South Carolina on a Track & Field scholarship. Here he excelled, becoming a Letterman and setting three Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) shot-put records. While attending the University of South Carolina he was a member of Sigma NU fraternity, and Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) national leadership honor society. In 1959, he graduated with a B.A. degree. Professionally, he had a successful 30+ year career as a Senior Pharmaceutical Representative with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, winning North American Salesman of the Year. He was also a lifetime member of the Shriners of North America, The Columbia York Rite, and ToastMasters International. After retiring from Pfizer he dedicated himself to becoming an integral member of various august-bodies of men (A.K.A Retired folks!) who patronized watering holes such as the local McDonalds, West Columbia's Shooters Choice, and the back-couch and coffee area at the downtown Todd & Moore Sports location, where any number of the world’s political problems, as well as the latest Gamecock and Clemson sports team dilemmas, would be easily resolved each day. His interests included spending time with family and friends, fishing, a passion for football, watching old B&W movies, listening to classic singers from the 1940s and 1950s (And yes, it can now be told…listening to music from, and watching, classic Hollywood musicals), attending antique auctions in Highlands, N.C. and Cashiers, N.C., and collecting oil paintings, and sculptures, and of course exercising his “smile-when-you-say-that-pilgrim” 2nd Amendment Rights. He is survived by his daughter, Kelley Knotts (Jeff) of Greer, S.C.; son, John Coates (Amy) of Dunwoody, Ga.; daughter-in-law, LuAlice Coates of Chapin, S.C.; granddaughters, Katie Metze and Emily Metze of Lexington, S.C., and Mary Emma Coates of Dunwoody, Ga.; grandsons, Brandon Coates (Jessie) and Tyler Coates (Sarah) of Lexington, S.C., and Hunter Coates of Dunwoody, Ga.; step grandchildren, Jessica Baker (Jason) of Summerville, S.C., Courtney Rauch (Karl) of Chapin, S.C., Michael Knotts and Haley Knotts of Greer, S.C.; great-granddaughter, Rynn Elise Coates; stepgreat-grandchildren, Adilyn Aldridge of Summerville, S.C., Riley Rauch and Reid Rauch of Chapin, S.C.; cousin, Richard W. Coates of Suffolk, Va. In addition, he is survived by his longtime friend, Sara Elizabeth “Lib” Croft of Columbia, S.C. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, John and Bobby Coates; and son, Trooper Mark H. Coates. A memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 23, 2015, at Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel, Irmo. The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made "In Memory of David Coates” to the Methodist Epworth Children’s Home located in Columbia S.C. Placement is the result of a fractured family system where children have experienced abuse, neglect or significant loss. Donations can be mailed to Epworth Children's Home, PO Box 50466, Columbia, SC 29250, or via their website at http://www.epworthchildrenshome.org, clicking the "Donations" tab in the top right corner.
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