William Coffey Jr

Col. William D. Coffey, Jr. (U.S Army Ret.)William (Bill) Coffey, 94, of Austin passed away on May 30, 2016 surrounded by his family.Bill was born in Austin, the oldest child of William and Abbie Coffey. His family included three sisters and two brothers. Bill took responsibility for his family at age 14 after his father died. He worked in cafes, sold newspapers on Congress Avenue and worked for a time as a Western Union messenger boy. He joined the National Guard at Camp Mabry in 1940, which was the beginning of his 28 year military career.From Private to regular army full Colonel, from cavalry to airborne, from high school drop-out to full Professor, Bill enjoyed a lifetime of accomplishments. He commanded major military units and inspired thousands of students during a long and varied life.During his military career, which ended in 1968, Bill served as Army Port Commander in Honolulu, commanded an Officer Candidate School and had several posts in Washington D.C. among other assignments. He spent WWII as a troop commander in Europe and Africa where he received numerous campaign and combat service medals. He also helped lead the famous Red Ball Express from Normandy through France.Bill earned a BA and MBA from the University of Maryland, and completed post MBA studies at the University of Hawaii, George Washington University and the Army Command and General Staff College. When Bill retired from the military, he returned to Austin where he earned his PhD at the University of Texas. He joined the staff of St. Edward"s University (SEU) as a Profressor in 1972 where he developed some of the MBA curriculum and taught fifteen different courses in his 20 year SEU career. He retired from SEU in 1992.After leaving SEU, Bill was free to focus his energy and attention on other areas he loved, including buying and reconditioning distressed real estate where he did much of the work himself. He built his own home and in recent years a home on his stock farm east of Austin.Bill loved the military, his country and his family. He was always willing to help those less fortunate. His word was his bond and his handshake as good as any contract. He was one of the last of his kind.He is preceded in death by his parents, William and Abbie Coffey; sister, Leola Dockery; two brothers John and Bobby Coffey.Bill is survived by Estelle, his wife of 66 years; children, David Coffey, Allana Raven, Melinda Booker, Kim Crider and Jennifer Coffey; two sisters, Georgia Simmons and "Bootsie" Knudson; seven grandchildren and three great grandchildren. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donation be made to Hospice Austin"s Christopher House in Bill"s memory.A Service will be held Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the Elgin Funeral Home with Pastor Bill Hart officiating. Interment will follow at Elgin Cemetery with full Military Honors.