James Francis Coffey, born May 11, 1916 in Buena Vista, VA, and died Jan. 8, 2007 in Lexington. According to his obituary, James married Hilah Pendleton Reid on Nov. 6, 1939 in Lee Chapel on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Lexington. Hilah died in VA in 1997.
His obituary:
James Francis Coffey
Building Contractor Was Involved In Many Restoration Projects
James Francis Coffey, 90, of Lexington, died on Monday, January 8, 2007 at the Stonewall Jackson Hospital.
He was born in Buena Vista, Virginia on May 11, 1916, the son of Walton Wilmoth and Lula Elizabeth McCormick Coffey.
He is survived by his two sons, David Walton and Daniel Calvin Coffey; his daughter-in-law, Macy Brittigan Coffey; two grandsons: Daniel Brittigan and Talmadge McClellan Coffey; a sister, Ruth Eloise Coffey Yeager; and a brother-in-law, James R. Yeager, Jr., all of Lexington.
He is also survived by a niece, Caroline Elizabeth Yeager Ramsey of Marietta, Georgia.
In 1997, he was preceded in death by his wife, Hilah Pendleton Reid Coffey, whom he wed in Lee Chapel on November 6, 1939.
Mr. Coffey moved to Lexington with his family in the early 1920s where his father was a general contractor and the builder and owner of the Mayflower Hotel, which is now an assisted-living center where Francis Coffey lived for the last few years of his life.
Francis Coffey graduated from Washington and Lee University in 1939 with a B.S. degree in Commerce. While at W&L, he was selected for membership in Beta Gamma Sigma, an honorary fraternity for commerce and business students.
After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to Lexington and joined his father in the construction business, then renamed W. W. Coffey and Son. After the death of his father in 1968, Francis Coffey became president of the firm. He retired in 1984. In his last years as a building contractor, he was heavily involved in restoration projects in Lexington, serving as general contractor for the restoration of many of the historic buildings in downtown Lexington, including the Stonewall Jackson House.
Francis Coffey was a member of the Lexington Presbyterian Church, where he had served as an elder. In the 1950s, he was a founding member of the Rockbridge Camp of the Gideons International and was elected as an officer of the local branch on numerous occasions.
Following a private burial in Stonewall Jackson Cemetery, there will be a memorial service at the Lexington Presbyterian Church at 11 a.m. on Thursday, January 11, 2007.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The Gideons International, P. O. Box 942, Lexington, Va. 24450.
Ruth E. Coffey, born c1921. I have no information on this child.
Walton registered for the WW1 on Jun. 5, 1917 in Buena Vista at age 28. He was married with one child and self-employed as a manufacturer of building materials. He described himself as being tall with medium build, blue eyes and black hair.
In the census of 1930 he reported his occupation as hotel manager; Lola was the hotel restaurant manager. The family then resided at 416 Main St. in Lexington.
On Apr. 27, 1942, at age 53, he again registered for the draft in Lexington where he was described as weighing 200 lbs., and was 5' 11" tall. His eyes were still blue but his hair was gray. He was self-employed, and resided with his wife at 308 S. Main St. in Lexington.
Please contact me at the above e-mail address to add to or correct any of this information. I am especially interested in learning more about Ruth.
