St. George, Utah - John Edmund Coles MD, departed mortality peacefully surrounded by family April 3, 2016. His ninety-eight plus years were dedicated to work, sacrifice and service.   He was a devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

John was born November 22, 1917 in a simple log home with sod roof in Lorenzo, Idaho to Daniel Hollyman Coles and Lilley Gange the fourth of five children. His siblings include Lola Coles Tibbetts, Milton Coles, Julian Coles, and Bernice Coles Hathaway. It was on the family farm he learned the value of hard work.  Likely hot summer days in the hay field also taught him the value of an education.  He graduated from Rigby (Idaho) High School.  During his life he studied at Ricks College, Rexburg, Idaho, Utah State University, Logan, Utah, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, University of California, Berkley, California and John's Hopkins Medical School, Baltimore, Maryland. As a young man his Stake President told him, "I have the distinct impression that if you have the chance to go to Medical School, you should become a doctor."  At the time, the prospects for a poor farm boy becoming a physician seemed completely impossible.

As World War II began John enlisted in the Army Air Corp attending flight school in Santa Maria, California. He became a navigator stationed in Long Beach, California where he met Bettie F. Brunt of Idaho Falls, Idaho. They were married in the Logan LDS Temple, on July 20, 1943.  During the War he served in the Pacific theatre. He was in the squadron of five aircraft carrying General Douglas MacArthur to oversee the Japanese surrender.

After the War, John studied at the University of California, Berkley completing a degree in Mechanical Engineering.  He then was admitted to John's Hopkins Medical School in Baltimore, Maryland.  Dr. Coles was an Internist specializing in Cardiology.  Upon graduation he re-enlisted and served twenty-nine years in the Air Force.  During his career the Coles family lived in San Antonio, Texas, Cheyenne, Wyoming, Anchorage, Alaska, Gulfport, Mississippi, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and Riverside, California.  After leaving the Air Force he began private practice in Riverside, then Patton State Hospital and March Air Base. John and Bettie moved to St. George, Utah in 1998 where they lived happily for fifteen years.

John's life was accentuated by service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; serving as Bishop's Counselor, Stake High Councilor, Bishop (twice), and Stake Patriarch.  He is survived by his seven children: Bettie Fann (Richard) Wilson, John, Jr. (Carol) Coles, Daniel (Sue) Coles, David (Diane) Coles, Cathy (Steven) Wilson, Mary (Stephen) Davis, Paul Coles (Deceased), and Michael Coles.  John also leaves a posterity numbering forty-four grandchildren and one hundred seven great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at the Bloomington LDS 3rd Ward Chapel, 3519 Manzanita Drive, St. George, Utah. A viewing will be Saturday, prior to services, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at the Chapel. Interment will be at Tonaquint Cemetery.