Wayne Coates Obituary

Wayne Coates MT. PLEASANT - Wayne Gilbert Coates entered into eternal rest on February 19, 2024, after a five-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Wayne was born in Washington, DC, on December 14, 1951, to Gilbert and Lorraine Coates. He grew up in Falls Church, VA, and graduated from the University of Virginia in 1974. He sang in the University of Virginia Glee Club and was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity. After graduation, Wayne began what would become a 42 year career in banking, starting at Jefferson National Bank in Charlottesville, VA, and continuing at Wachovia, Wells Fargo and ultimately retiring from Capital Bank in Winston-Salem. On May 3rd, 1977, Wayne met Helen "Bunny" Whitcomb at Timberlake's in Charlottesville. Four days later, they had their first date. Two years later, on May 5th , 1979, they walked down the aisle of Meadows Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville. Together, they had two sons, and in 2000, the family moved to Winston-Salem, NC, where they remained until retiring to Mount Pleasant, SC, in 2018. Wayne's other true loves included Saturday mornings playing golf, Sunday afternoons watching golf, a good beach sunset, a terrible pun, UVA sports, singing in the church choir, and music, a passion he inherited from his father, a professional musician for 60 years. Wayne was preceded in death by his mother and father, Gilbert and Lorraine; and brother, Neale Coates. He is survived by Bunny, his loving wife of 44 years; son, Jeff of Charleston, SC; son, Spencer of Los Angeles, CA; sister, Nancy Ledford of Los Angeles, CA; and brother-in-law, Lee Whitcomb of Charlottesville, VA; and numerous nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. The family would like to thank Dr. Gene Saylors, Erin Lott and Lindsey Vollono of Charleston Oncology at Roper St. Francis for giving us five miraculous years with the most selfless, kind and loving husband, father, brother and uncle. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 2 p.m. at Palmetto Presbyterian Church, 1720 Carolina Park Blvd., Mount Pleasant, SC, with reception to follow from 3 p.m to 5 p.m. at The Pavilion at Pepper, 3536 Thunder Gulch Trl., Awendaw, SC. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to East Cooper Community Outreach, 1145 Six Mile Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29466 (ECCOcharleston.org). Expressions of sympathy can be viewed at Mcalister-smith.com. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Mcalister-Smith Funeral Home, 1520 Rifle Range Road, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464, 843 884-3833.