Jean Perkins Coots of Roanoke passed away on Wednesday, July 8, 2020, at the age of 101.
She was born in Galax, Va. on May 28, 1919, the daughter of Zollie Bryant Perkins and Edward Franklin Perkins. Her family resided in Roanoke after she was 3 years of age.
Jean was predeceased by four brothers and one sister, Charles, Richard, Billy, Dorothy and Edward Perkins.
She attended Jefferson High School and Roanoke College, and did graduate work at University of North Carolina and Appalachian University. She taught school in Salem before working for the United States Army Signal Corps in Arlington, Va., during World War II.
She and her husband, Frederick A. Coots, an FBI agent, celebrated 65 years of marriage until his death in 2009. They had two sons, Dr. Fred A. Coots Jr., a retired dentist in the Roanoke Valley, married to Debbie Bailey, and John E. Coots, a newspaper publisher in the New England states, married to Sandy Slavens. Jean is survived by one sister, Mildred Tompkins of Hillsville, Va,, also a resident with Jean at The Glebe Retirement Community in Daleville. She leaves seven grandchildren, Fred III, Jennifer, Gregory, Bret, Clark (Kristina), Dean and Reed Coots; and one great-grandchild, Emmerson.
A private graveside service was held for the family. Owing to virus precautions, no visiting hours will be held. A memorial service will be conducted at a later date. A 22-minute video biography of Jean’s life can be seen on You-Tube at the following link: https://youtu.be/Clib5ajqpmA.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the D-Day Memorial Foundation, P.O. Box 77, Bedford, VA 24523 or online at www.dday.org.
Arrangements by Oakey’s Funeral Service – North Chapel, Roanoke. Online condolences may be shared with the family by visiting www.oakeys.com.
