Earl Raymond Coker, 81, of Davenport, passed away Monday, October 21, 2013 at the Davenport Lutheran Home. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 24, 2013 at 10:00 am at The Runge Mortuary. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 5-7 pm at the mortuary. Burial will be in Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to his family, to be donated to his favorite charities. Online condolences may be left at www.rungemortuary.com
Earl was born January 10, 1932 in Oxford Mills, IA; the son of Beulah (Inghram) and Earle R. Coker, Sr. From age two to thirteen, he lived with his grandparents, Louis J. and Edith Mae Inghram in West Liberty, IA. He then moved to Davenport, Iowa to live with his mother and graduated early from Davenport High School in January 1949. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Navy where he was a radio operator aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Allen M. Sumner DD692 stationed in Norfolk, VA. During his tenure in the Navy, he traveled to the Caribbean Sea and Mediterranean Sea. After an honorable discharge, he returned to Davenport. Earl enjoyed roller skating at The Prom Roller Skating Rink, where he met his future wife, Gladys Mae Benson. He spent his lucky 50-cent-piece on their first date, the same night they met. Earl and Gladys were married on October 1, 1955 at the RLDS Church in Davenport. Earl worked for National Cash Register Company as a repairman, Bendix Aviation and Kartridg Pak as a design draftsman, America Air Filter – Defense Products Division as a design engineer, R&R Welding Supply as a welding engineer, and Sun Electric as a Regional Sales Manager.
In 1973, he became an entrepreneur in the service station business with his wife and son, eventually creating Kwik Tune Kwik Lube Automotive Consultants. He retired in 1991. He also was an avid cat lover. He enjoyed building and racing Three-Quarter (TQ) Midgets from 1960 to 1994. He was treasurer and president of the Blackhawk TQ Midget Racing Association and Chairman of the WTQMRA Racing Association.
Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Gladys; children: Donald A. Coker, Davenport; Catherine A. (Coker) Creighton, Urbandale, IA and Patricia A. (Coker) Hogan, Davenport; grandchildren: Tiffany (Josh) Hunt; Michael Coker, Paul Creighton, all of Davenport and Joshua Newsum, Denver, CO; great grandchildren: Clayton and Parker Coker and Miley Creighton, all of Davenport; He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, grandson, Shawn Michael Coker; granddaughter, Katie Michelle Hogan, sister, Audrey Jean (Coker-Moeller) Studer; and beloved cats: Spook, Blackie, Snowball and Tabbee; may they rest in peace.
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