Robert John Coggins

Robert J Coggins, 72, of Satellite Beach, FL, passed away on August 23, 2014, in Melbourne, FL. He was born on August 21, 1942, in Bristol, CT, to Earle and Delvina Coggins. He lived in Bristol for over twenty years before making the jump to a new world by enlisting in the US Air Force. Through the USAF, he earned his degree at Ohio State University, and was commissioned as an officer, and retired after twenty years of service. While attending Ohio State, he met the love of his life, Mary Sue Gilbert (Susan), and they were married in September 1969. Departing the Air Force, after being part of the AWACS at Tinker AFB, OK, for the last eight years of his career, Bob was fortunate enough to be hired on with the Grumman Corporation at their new location in Melbourne, FL, to work on the Joint STARS program. After almost 19 years with Northrop Grumman, he retired as a Senior Test Engineer in 2005. Bob is thankful for the many wonderful people he met and friends he made in the Air Force, and at Northrop Grumman. Bob was a Life Member of the Ohio State University Alumni Association, the Air Force Association, and the Military Officers Association of America. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus, and the St George Catholic Community of Patrick AFB. He is survived by his wife, Susan; his daughter Stacey, and son Todd; son-in-law Jamie Jacquot; and granddaughters, Kaylie and Emily Jacquot. He leaves some very wonderful nieces and nephews, and their families; the Barnes, Conlons, Larrivees, Mancinis, Miles, Noltes, Phoenixes, Rostenbergs, and Schumitzes. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister and her husband, Shirley and Albert Larrivee and his sister Norma and her husband Ed Conlon. Both Norma and Shirley, and their husbands, supported their little brother, and helped him and his friends mature through their formative years in Bristol; thank God for them. Bob would really appreciate your prayers. He thanks the Lord Jesus Christ for guiding him. He thanks the doctors who cared for him these past years. He would like to thank his friends, far and near (especially the Mini-Munchers and the "Hood") for being such an inspiration to him, and being there for him; and he thanks Susan, Stacey, and Todd for making a wonderful family. A mass celebrating Bob's life will be held at the PAFB South Patrick Chapel located at 854 Herrier Street, Satellite Beach on Saturday, August 30, 2014, at 2pm. Graveside services, with military honors, will be at the Florida National Cemetery , in Bushnell, FL, in the near future.