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COFFEE -- Virgil Oren Coffee, 94, of McIntosh, NM, passed away January 13, 2008, at the home of his son, Dale, in Rio Rancho. Born on October 5,1913, in Hugo, OK, to James Carroll and Lelia Jane Kendrick Coffee, he was the fourth of their six children. Virgil lived in Hugo and attended public schools there. During the late 1920s and early 1930s he worked a variety of agriculture related jobs until he finally became a short-order cook. He worked for the Civilian Conservation Corps as a cook in camps in California. In 1935 he enlisted in the United States Army, becoming an officer during World War II. Virgil served in the Medical Service Corps performing medical evacuation during combat operations in Europe. When conflict began in Korea in 1950, he saw action again as an officer conducting medical evacuation during combat operations. Virgil retired from the Army in 1956, with the rank of Major, while serving as medical supply officer of the station hospital, Sandia Base, Albuquerque, NM. After working for the New Mexico National Guard in supply operations in the late 1950s, Virgil worked as a weapons management specialist for the Defense Nuclear Agency in Albuquerque, 1960-73. During this period he was detached to work with the State Departments AID Mission in Vietnam, 1967-68. He was in Saigon during the Tet Offensive. Virgil married a young widow, Iva Fern Wingfield Green, June 3, 1938, in Las Cruces, NM. They had seven children. The family lived in California, Arizona, New Mexico (Alamogordo), Florida, North Carolina, New Jersey, Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico (Albuquerque, 1953-61; McIntosh, 1961-2008). Virgil was predeceased by his parents; his wife; one son, Daniel Lee Coffee; one great-grandson, Damon Coffee; two brothers, Robert Lee and James Haskell Coffee; and two sisters, Margaret and Nadine Coffee. Virgil is survived by three sons, Edwin Russell Coffee and wife, Phyllis of Woodbridge, VA; Virgil Oren Coffee Jr. of Albuquerque; Dale Scott Coffee and wife, Nola of Rio Rancho; three daughters, Iva Fern Barclay and husband, Ernest of Moriarty, Barbara Jean Gonzales and husband, Tommy of Blue Water Lake, NM, Patricia Laverne Britt of Odessa, TX; brother, Edwin Russell Coffee of Bakersfield, CA; 16 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson. A Graveside Funeral Service will be held at the Estancia Cemetery in Estancia, NM on Saturday, January 19, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. with Robert Wright providing the eulogy. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th St. NW, ABQ. 505-343-8008
        Published on: Thu January 17, 2008