Robert Allan Coe Jr.

Today we celebrate the life and mourn the passing of Robert “Bob” Allan Coe Jr. Bob was born February 25, 1935, in Clinton, Illinois and left this earth for his heavenly home with his loving wife and family by his side on Tuesday November 18th, in Gladstone, Missouri. Bob was 90 years and 8 months old.

Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Allen Coe Sr. 1903-1987, and Anna Louise “Pinney” Coe (Bean) 1907-2005. Bob leaves behind his brother Harry Louis “Lou” Coe (Joan “Joni” Allum), and his sister Christine Hohe (Coe) (Hugh).

Bob leaves his wife, Mary Claire Coe (Bolen) and his four daughters, Jennifer Hutton (Scofield), Rebecca Parton (Michael), Amanda Pasmore (Michael), and Mary McGrath (Donald),

His nine Grandchildren: Patrick Scofield (Rebekah Barajas), Katherine Kennedy (Scofield) (Sean), Joshua Parton (Ashley Jobe), Lena Finchman (Parton) (Andrew), Joseph McGrath (Sammee Marnell), Wren Hadley (Hutton) (Jesse), Charles Pasmore, John McGrath, Paige Pasmore and his four Great Grandchildren: Shiloh Kennedy, Esephanie Parton, Remington Parton, and Ronan McGrath. Bob spent 90 years on this earthly plane living his life to the fullest.

He was an avid reader; he was a devoted Christian. He and Claire are members of Platte Woods United Methodist Church. After he retired in 2005, he became a member of the “GOMA” at PWUMC. The “Godly Old Men at Work” were volunteer maintenance for the church and completed numerous church and community projects over 19 years.

He was a passionate Naval veteran and a founding member of his Navy Squadron reunion, “Gladiators VA 106”. Bob sang barbershop, played the piano and the ukulele. In his youth, he was a member of the Boy Scouts “Order of the Arrow”. He was a lifeguard for many summers during High School and College. He loved fishing and hunting and building model airplanes.

In High School, Bob ran track and cross country. He was a member of the 1952 Woodruff High School cross country team in Peoria, Illinois. The team held the state record for 47 years with a score of 37 points. In 2000 the team was inducted into the Illinois High School Athletics Hall of Fame. He attended all but one of his high school reunions. The last time in 2023, for his 70th reunion.

He held numerous offices through fraternal and work related organizations. He held the office of President for the Kansas City ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers) in 1977, and he was a lifelong member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Bob spent his career in wholesale Heating and Air Conditioning.

After High School he attended Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois. In 1955 he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was trained in Electronics for a special training unit call FAETULANT, Fleet Air Electronics Training Unit Atlantic, a special squadron of the Navy dedicated to education and proficiency of naval aviators and technicians in airborne electronic warfare. From 1955 to 1959 he toured with the Cecil Field Attack squadron, VA 106. After his discharge, in 1959, he returned to Peoria, Illinois to complete his college education, earning his bachelor’s degree at Bradley University.

Bob met Claire in 1962, they were married February 3, 1963, and spent 64 lovely years together. He and Claire loved to travel and were given the opportunity to travel to many destinations together. Bob was very proud of his heritage. He was the 7th Robert Coe in his direct Coe linage from the English Immigrant, Robert Coe in 1634.

Bob held his friendships close. He maintained relationships with friends from high school, the navy, work, neighbors and his church. He had an amazing memory. He was intelligent and witty, telling the very worst of “dad jokes”, thus raising his 4 daughters on his humor. Bob was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, leaving behind a legacy.