Beth was born in Minden, Nebraska on November 25, 1958, to Reverend and Mrs. James P. Darroch. At the time, Rev. Darroch was serving as Pastor of the First Presbyterian Church in Axtell, NE.
Beth graduated from Haddon Township High School, Haddon Township, New Jersey, in 1977. In 1981, Beth earned a BS in Home Economics Education from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland.
Beth married LT Kenneth ‘KC’ Coggins, USN on July 25, 1987. The couple was married by the bride’s father at Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church in Audubon, NJ, where Rev. Darroch was the Pastor.
After college, Beth worked as a Home Economics teacher before transitioning to industry as a trainer for an insurance company and a defense contractor. She met her future husband in Athens, Greece in December 1985 when both were there on business.
Beth was the perfect Navy wife, able to juggle the demands of raising children and managing a household, single-handedly, while her husband was deployed. Over 33 years of marriage, the couple lived in four countries and six states. Beth stayed home until her youngest started school and then substitute taught at her daughters’ schools. Once her eldest daughter started college, Beth returned to the classroom on a full-time basis and served as a Special Education teacher at Griffin Middle School in The Colony, TX. She returned to substitute teaching, this in time in Prosper, TX, when her daughters had finished college.
Beth was an active member of many military spouse organizations during Navy, NATO and embassy assignments in the US and Europe. She was a very talented knitter and attended many seminars to constantly sharpen her skills. During overseas assignments, Beth enjoyed acquiring many unique and distinctive decorations and furnishings for the family home.
Beth is survived by: husband, CDR Kenneth C. Coggins, USN(Ret) of Prosper, TX; daughter, Kristina and husband Dan Heck of Colorado Springs; daughter, Julie and husband LT Tom Dunlap, USN of Virginia Beach; brother, Doug Darroch and wife Tracee of Shamong, NJ; brother, Greg of Westlake, OH; and, sister, Alison and husband Rick Schwarz of Mount Laurel, NJ.
Two ‘Celebration of Life’ services are planned: 4/24 at 1 PM- Trinity Presbyterian Church in Southlake, TX; and, 6/26 at 1 PM- Logan Memorial Presbyterian Church in Audubon, NJ.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to “Fight Colorectal Cancer”
Online condolence messages can be posted to: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/10153781
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Fight Colorectal Cancer, In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting donations to “Fight Colorectal Cancer”.
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