Joseph F. Coates, 81, of Cobbs Creek, died Nov. 10, 2012 at Riverside Walter Reed Hospital.

Joseph proudly served his country and retired from the United States Air Force. After retiring from the Air Force, he then worked and retired from the Hampton Sheriff’s Department. He loved his family and he will be missed so much.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Helen T. Coates; parents, Stanley and Pansy Coates; brother, James Coates, and sister, Virginia Ritchie.

He is survived by his daughters, Linda Marie Coates and fiancé Gerald Joyner, and Pamela Arthur (Matthew Jones); sister, Barbara Jean Ambrose and husband Fred; grandchildren, Melinda Donaldson and husband Brandon, Tricia Arthur, Jessica Arthur, and four great-grandchildren.

Graveside funeral service conducted by the Rev. W. Donald Ambrose will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, 2012, at Hampton Veterans Memorial Gardens, 155 Butler Farm Road, Hampton. Friends are asked to assemble at the cemetery.

Arrangements by Hogg Funeral Home and Crematory, Gloucester Point.