Paul Blakely Coe

Paul Blakely Coe, 80, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 23 with his wife Linda at his side. Paul was born on March 22, 1936 to Ralph Coe and Evelyn (McDonald) Coe in Harvey, Illinois. In the early1940s, he and his mother and sister moved to Iowa while his dad served in the Navy. Over the years, the family lived in a variety of places including Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Maryland, Lexington Park, Maryland, and Hatboro, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Hatboro-Horsham High School in 1954, after which the family moved to Fort Walton Beach, Florida. Paul attended college in Florida for one year and then joined the Navy in 1955. He served stateside and in Naples, Italy, as well as serving aboard the carrier Franklin D. Roosevelt. He was honorably discharged in 1959. Upon leaving the Navy he returned to Florida State University, majoring in Physics. In 1963, he moved to Pinellas Park, Florida where he lived the rest of his life. He worked as a High Vacuum Technician for General Electric Specialty Components for 29 years until his retirement in 1993. He was blessed with a beautiful baritone voice with which he entertained others as a member of SPEBSQSA (barbershop), the Master Chorale, and the St. Petersburg College Community Chorus. He also sang in a number of church choirs in the area. His other avocation was the love of trains. He was a published train photographer and collector of train memorabilia. He was a member of the National Railway Historical Society, ACL/SAL Historical Society, and the Rock Island Historical Society. Paul and Linda loved traveling and were privileged to have visited 49 of the 50 states as well as a number of countries in Europe. They also enjoyed cruising. Paul is survived by his wife of 42 years Linda, sons Gregory Knupke-Coe (Laura) and Roy Coe (Kimberly), one granddaughter Olivia, his sister Laura Hamilton, nieces Carol Hamilton and Dr. Shirley Mier, and one nephew David Coe. He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Shirley, and brother Roger. A funeral mass will be held on Saturday, May 7 at 1 p.m., at St. Matthews Catholic Church in Largo, Florida with visitation starting at 12 noon. Interment will be at Bay Pines at a later date.