Howard Arthur Coates, 97, of El Cerrito, California, passed away on Tuesday, June 28, 2016. Born in 1918 in Oakland to Thomas Coates and Elsa (Janson) Coates, Howard worked on the railroad as a teenager during the Depression years, and he later served in the U.S. Army during World War II with the 147th Field Artillery Regiment in Australia and New Guinea. After the war, he began a long and successful career in accounting and real estate in the Bay Area, working from offices in Berkeley, Albany, and Richmond at various times. In 1949, he married Betty Bertelsen of Saratoga, California, and in 1955 they moved to El Cerrito where they would live for the next sixty-one years and raise their three children. Howard had many happy times with the families of Betty’s three sisters, Viola, Carolyn, and Nancy, sharing visits in San Jose, Saratoga, El Cerrito, Gilroy, and Placerville. The coast of California, especially Seacliff State Park, was also a special place, and he enjoyed many early morning breakfasts on the beach with his family.
Howard and Betty enjoyed traveling together and visited many parts of the world over the years, including Alaska, Hawaii, Europe, the Pacific, and the Caribbean. One special trip was to Denmark, where they met Betty’s Danish relatives, and another special trip was to Australia, to visit some of the cities where Howard served during the war.
A lifelong fan of the California Golden Bears, Howard also enjoyed golf, bowling, handicapping at Golden Gate Fields, Bridge, and games and puzzles of all kinds. One of his pleasures in later years was playing Scrabble online with his three sons. He won regularly well into his nineties.
Howard was well known for his wit, sense of humor, and optimistic outlook on life. One of his sons, Thomas, always referred to him as “The World’s Funniest Accountant.”
Howard is survived by Betty, his wife of sixty-seven years; his sons Thomas, Kenneth, and Lawrence; daughters-in-law Ashley and Kimberly; and grandchildren Katherine and William.
A private graveside service will be held and a celebration of his life will be scheduled at a later date at the Mira Vista United Church Of Christ, 780 Ashbury Ave., in El Cerrito, CA.
Donations in his honor can be made to Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children of Contra Costa County. http://www.cccocasa.org/