Robert Joseph Coates

Robert Joseph Coates, “Bobby”(76), left this world on July 8, 2026 peacefully surrounded by family. Robert, aka “The Admiral”, was born on September 18, 1949 in New Orleans, LA to Charles G. Coates and Luella S. Coates. He was one of five children.

He was proceeded in death by his beloved parents, Charles George Coates Sr. and Luella Swanton Coates; his sister, Charlotte Coates Jones; his brother Charles G. Coates Jr.; his grandson Kael Robert-John Salisbury; his former wife, Linda F. Coates; his loving companion/best friend, Ruth “Ruthie” Kelley; and his one and only son, Robert J. Coates Jr(“Bobby”).

Survivors include his loving children, Laron R. Salisbury(Jennifer), Stacie M. Coates(Matthew), and Stephanie C. Sullivan(Josh); stepdaughter, Cristan G. Hickman(Shane); his siblings, Charlene C. Schaub(Ruppert Sr.) and Michael P. Coates; his grandkids, Brein, Baleigh(Hanna), Isabella, Keimani, Giannah, Meilani, Jenson, Grayson, Taylor(Randy), Chloe(Kason), Robert III “Trey”, Alyssa, Timothy, Thomas, Jordan, Felicity, Braylin(Austin), and David; great grandchildren, Norma-Rose, Ryan, Randy, and Eliana; a multitude of nieces and nephews; and his 2 lifelong best friends, practically brothers, Gene Kolber and Thomas Halverson Sr.

Robert was a native of New Orleans, but a longtime resident of Metairie, LA. He was a very proud and extremely decorated Navy veteran. During those years, he was awarded the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Citation, and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal(Korea). He was larger than life and never knew a stranger. He loved to sing and dance just as much as he loved his family. He found humor in everything in life and lived his life to the absolute fullest. He was an amazing father, grandfather, and all around person. He found light in most of the darkest tunnels because that’s just who he was. And if you knew him, you loved him, because what wasn’t to love. 

As he would sing, and feel every word, “Sailing…..take me away to where I’m going.”