The Life of Dr. William R Coles Sr.
Dr. William Russel Coles Sr., 87, Branchdale, passed away Jan. 19 at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia, with his children, Ron and Marie, and two grandchildren, Elena and Anna, holding his hands.
Born Dec. 26, 1930, he was a son of the late William and Verna Mae Coles.
He earned the rank of sergeant in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1952.
He was a PA licensed doctor of cosmetology and owned and operated several beauty salons in Philadelphia.
William was a devout member of the Salvation Army Pioneer Corps and regularly played the cornet, guitar and piano for church services. He served as a clergyman in The Volunteers of America and The American Rescue Workers often feeding hundreds of people with Thanksgiving meals and holiday food baskets.
He worked with his son, Ron, to found Miracles in the Making Inc., a religious nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to the revival and restoration of churches that have closed. Under this new organization, St. Mary's Church, Branchdale, was the first church to be restored and reopened in service to the community in loving memory of his late wife, Marie, who passed away in 2010.
He was also preceded in death by two sons, William R. and Russell W. Coles, and his siblings, the Rev. Col. Robert N. Coles, Maj. Charles H. Coles and Maj. Emily M. Foreman.
William is survived by his children, Ronald R. Coles, Philadelphia, and Marie L. Coles Gewiss, Mechanicsburg. He is also survived by his grandchildren, William R. Coles III, Amy Coles, Elena Gewiss and Anna Gewiss.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at St. Mary's Church, Branchdale. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Interment with military honors will follow at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. Grabowski Funeral Home, Schuylkill Haven, is entrusted with the services.
Born Dec. 26, 1930, he was a son of the late William and Verna Mae Coles.
He earned the rank of sergeant in the Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1952.
He was a PA licensed doctor of cosmetology and owned and operated several beauty salons in Philadelphia.
William was a devout member of the Salvation Army Pioneer Corps and regularly played the cornet, guitar and piano for church services. He served as a clergyman in The Volunteers of America and The American Rescue Workers often feeding hundreds of people with Thanksgiving meals and holiday food baskets.
He worked with his son, Ron, to found Miracles in the Making Inc., a religious nonprofit charitable organization dedicated to the revival and restoration of churches that have closed. Under this new organization, St. Mary's Church, Branchdale, was the first church to be restored and reopened in service to the community in loving memory of his late wife, Marie, who passed away in 2010.
He was also preceded in death by two sons, William R. and Russell W. Coles, and his siblings, the Rev. Col. Robert N. Coles, Maj. Charles H. Coles and Maj. Emily M. Foreman.
William is survived by his children, Ronald R. Coles, Philadelphia, and Marie L. Coles Gewiss, Mechanicsburg. He is also survived by his grandchildren, William R. Coles III, Amy Coles, Elena Gewiss and Anna Gewiss.
A viewing will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday at St. Mary's Church, Branchdale. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at the church. A viewing will be held from 9 a.m. until the time of services. Interment with military honors will follow at Schuylkill Memorial Park, Schuylkill Haven. Grabowski Funeral Home, Schuylkill Haven, is entrusted with the services.
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Military Service
Branch:
Air Force
Rank:
Unknown