Eighth Generation

9436. Dr. Everett Lee Coffey was born on 13 April 1921 in Roanoke, VA.²⁸⁷⁵³ Dr. Coffey died in an airplane crash on 18 September 1993 at the age of 72 in Lyndhurst, Augusta Co., VA.^{28754,28755,28756}

Botetourt doctor dies in plane crash

Glider he was towing lands safely

by Laura Williamson
Staff Writer

A 72-year-old Botetourt County medical examiner died Saturday when the single-engine plane he was flying crashed into an embankment near Interstate 64 in Augusta County.

Dr. Everett Lee Coffey of Buchanan was towing a glider containing two people when his plane failed to gain altitude and smashed into a field near Staunton shortly after 2 p.m.

The glider broke free of the airplane, and its occupants were unharmed, said Dave Barry, manager of the Eagles Nest/Waynesboro Airport, where Coffey had been headed.

Coffey was taken by ambulance to King's Daughter's Hospital in Staunton, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.

"He probably died instantly," Nursing Supervisor Linda Gail Johnson said. "It's just not certain how he died at this point."

Coffey's 38-year-old son, Clifton, said he suspected his father had a heart attack while he was flying, causing the plane to crash.

"He was a damned good pilot and not prone to take chances," he said. "He was too good a pilot just to screw up."

Coffey's body will be sent to Roanoke for an autopsy, Johnson said.

Barry said Coffey had been flying the plane, owned by the Ridge Valley Soaring Club, for years and had a lot of experience towing gliders.

Coffey "knew the airplane better than anyone around,: he said.

He also knew the signal to let people know when he was having trouble, which was to wiggle his wings, Barry said.

"There was no such signal given today,: he said. "They don't understand what happened."

Barry said Coffey had flown out of an airport in Buchanan earlier in the day towing the glider and that the glider has flown free of the airplane when they came upon some clouds.

Coffey kept in touch with the glider by radio and went to retrieve it when it landed in the field near I-64.

Barry said witnesses told him Coffey's airplane took off from the top of a knoll with the glider in tow and that both aircraft gained altitude. Then the aircraft disappeared from view over a hill. The glider reappeared moments later, but the airplane did not.

Clifton Coffey said his father had retired from his physician's practice and was doing part-time work for the state, giving medical care to inmates at Camp 25 near Daleville. He also was the medical examiner for Botetourt County.

"He was a good man," he said. "He did his best to help people."

In addition to his son, Coffey is survived by his wife, Janice, and a daughter, Barbara.

Obituary, The Roanoke Times, Roanoke, VA, Sep. 20, 1993

Coffey, Dr. Everett L., 72, of Route 2, Buchanan, died Saturday, September 18, 1993. Dr. Coffey was in the European Theatre during World War II as a Second Lieutenant and was awarded the Silver Star and Purple Heart Medals. He received a Bachelor of Arts Degree i 1948, a Doctor of Medicine in 1950 and the American Board of Family Practice Diplomate in 1970. He practiced medicine in Buchanan from 1951 to 1988 and was a Medical Examiner for Botetourt County for many years. He was a loving husband, father and friend. He is survived by his wife, Janice Mundy Coffey; one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Lee Coffey and Logan doughty of Roanoke; one son, Clifton Lee Coffey of Vinton; three sisters, Edith Hobson and husband, Clinton Hobson of East Bend, M.C., Janice Holdway and husband, James Holdway of Stone Mountain, Ga. and Edwina McKenny of Lake City, Iowa; three brothers, Lynn A Coffey and wife, Hazel of Burlington, N.C., Dr. Lewis G. Coffey and wife, Ann of Rocky Mount and Dr. Kyle W. Coffey and wife Evelyn if Issaquan, Wash.; a number of nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be conducted from Oakey's North Chapel 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, September 21, with the Rev. Carlton T. Mitchell officiating. Burial will be in Wheatland Lutheran Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Scholarship Fund of James River High School. Friends may call Oakey;s North Chapel where the family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday.

Dr. Everett Lee Coffey and Janice Lee Mundy were married on 6 June 1947 in Roanoke, VA.²⁸⁷⁵⁷ Janice Lee Mundy, daughter of Armand P. Mundy and Elsie V. Brewbaker, was born on 23 March 1920 in Buchanan, Botetourt Co., VA.²⁸⁷⁵⁸ Janice enlisted in the US Army on 19 February 1943 at Roanoke, VA.²⁸⁷⁵⁹ Janice died in Virginia on 3 January 2007 and was buried at Wheatland Lutheran Church Cemetery in Buchanan, Botetourt Co., VA on 6 January 2007 .²⁸⁷⁶⁰

Obituary, The Roanoke Times, Thu., Jan. 4, 2007, Metro Edition, Page B5

Janice Mundy Coffey, K4AUU, passed away Wednesday, January 3, 2007. She was born in Buchanan, Va. on March 23, 1920 to the late Armand P. Mundy and Elsie Virginia Brewbaker Mundy. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Everett L. Coffey; three sisters and two brothers. Mrs. Coffey is survived by a daughter, Barbara L. Coffey, Roanoke, Va.; a son and daughter-in-law, Clifton L. and Leslie Coffey, Hardy, Va.; a sister, Virginia M. Cassell, Roanoke, Va.; a number of nieces and nephews; and a special friend, Irene Backman. She enjoyed 14 years as President of the Roanoke Valley Amateur Organ Club. Funeral services will be held at 12 p.m. Saturday, January 6, 2007 at Oakey's North Chapel, conducted by Dr. Carlton Mitchell and the Rev. Cecie Haxton. Interment will follow at the Wheatland Lutheran Church Cemetery, Buchanan, Va. Friends may call at Oakey's North Chapel on Friday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Rescue Mission, 402 Fourth St. S.E., Roanoke, Va. 24013. Arrangements by Oakey's North Chapel, 362-1237.

Dr. Everett Lee Coffey and Janice Lee Mundy had the following children:

16699

Clifton Lee Coffey was born on 21 August 1955 in Roanoke Co., VA.²⁸⁷⁶¹ Clifton died in Hardy, Bedford Co., VA on 28 May 2008 and a memorial service was held 31 May 2008 at Oakey's North Chapel in Roanoke, VA.^28762,28763

Obituary, The Roanoke Times, May 30, 2008

Clifton Lee Coffey, of Hardy, passed away on Wednesday, May 28, 2008, at the age of 52. He was born on August 21, 1955, and preceded in death by his father, Dr. E. L. Coffey, and mother, Janice Mundy Coffey.

Surviving are his wife, Leslie Firebaugh Coffey; his sister, Barbara L. Coffey; stepson, Brent Firebaugh; and extended family and friends.

He was a graduate of James River High School, Roanoke College and the Medical College of Virginia. He excelled on the debate team in high school and was an accomplished jazz guitarist. In his twenties, he had worked as a counselor at Roanoke Valley Psychiatric before returning to school to pursue a career in pharmacy.

He worked locally as a pharmacist for the remainder of his life as an employee and consultant and volunteered at both the Franklin County and Bradley Free Clinics.

Clifton was a kind and generous individual, who will be sadly missed. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Franklin County Free Clinic, P.O. Box 764, Rock Mount, Va. 24151.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 31, 2008, at Oakey's North Chapel. The Rev. Cecie Haxton will officiate.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, May 30, 2008, at Oakey's North Chapel and Crematory, 540-362-1237.