Obituary for Thomas James Coles II
Thomas James Coles II was born to his life on March 13, 1950 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was
the second oldest of 5 children born to Melvin A. Coles and Lella H. Bowyer Coles. Thomas was
affectionately known to his family and childhood friends as “Bubbie.” Thomas attended
Schenley High School and graduated on June 14, 1968. He graduated on June 19, 1970 from
Connelley Vocational Technical School, on Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hill District for Diesel
Mechanics. After graduation, he worked for Duquesne Light for many years as a Diesel Mechanic and later as a meter reader.
On March 26, 1971, he married Annie Willis. Out of this union, one child was born, Roxanne
Lella Coles. Thomas loved his daughter with all of his heart.
Thomas worked many other jobs in his lifetime, including -Fed Ex, Consol Energy Center,
Courier Express, Goodwill Industries, and Security Guard for Cauley Detective Agency and Allied
Security.
On September 18, 1995, He married Hope Addison and was widowed on January 11, 2009.
A back surgery forced him out of the workforce, and later left him confined to a wheelchair.
Even though Thomas was unable to attend church, he earlier accepted and loved the Lord Jesus
Christ as his savior.
Bubbie loved listening to jazz, playing chess and cards with his siblings and sometimes his
caregivers, doing word puzzles, traveling with his siblings and daughter, watching sports of all
types; i.e., basketball, football, baseball, spending time with his daughter and grandchildren. He adored and appreciated his sister, Sharon, who handled everything involving his care, his needs and his desires. He enjoyed going to cookouts at his sister Sharon’s home and his weekly visits with his brother
Walt, whom he could jokingly “let loose with”. He loved talking to his brothers, Michael and Donald in California, with whom he could never get the time zone right causing him to call in
the middle of the night. Bubbie made everyone he came in contact with love him with his
infectious smile, and his mischievous grin. He had a knack for making people give him what he
wanted with that same infectious smile.
Bubbie adored his grandchildren with all of his heart. Anytime, their name was even
mentioned, he beamed with pride. He loved advising his grandchildren regarding life situations.
Bubbie leaves to celebrate his life and homegoing his loving and devoted daughter, Roxanne
Lella Coles of Santa Barbara, California, three brothers, Melvin Coles of El Cajon, California,
Donald Coles (Victoria) of Chula Vista, California, Walter Coles of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and
one sister, Sharon Sloan (Milford) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two grandchildren Jordan Palmer
of Santa Barbara, California and Elijah Conkrite of Christiansburg, Virginia, and a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Thomas was preceded in death by his father,
Melvin Coles, his mother, Lella Coles, his wife, Hope Coles and his nephew, Marvin Hawes, Jr.
the second oldest of 5 children born to Melvin A. Coles and Lella H. Bowyer Coles. Thomas was
affectionately known to his family and childhood friends as “Bubbie.” Thomas attended
Schenley High School and graduated on June 14, 1968. He graduated on June 19, 1970 from
Connelley Vocational Technical School, on Bedford Avenue in Pittsburgh’s Hill District for Diesel
Mechanics. After graduation, he worked for Duquesne Light for many years as a Diesel Mechanic and later as a meter reader.
On March 26, 1971, he married Annie Willis. Out of this union, one child was born, Roxanne
Lella Coles. Thomas loved his daughter with all of his heart.
Thomas worked many other jobs in his lifetime, including -Fed Ex, Consol Energy Center,
Courier Express, Goodwill Industries, and Security Guard for Cauley Detective Agency and Allied
Security.
On September 18, 1995, He married Hope Addison and was widowed on January 11, 2009.
A back surgery forced him out of the workforce, and later left him confined to a wheelchair.
Even though Thomas was unable to attend church, he earlier accepted and loved the Lord Jesus
Christ as his savior.
Bubbie loved listening to jazz, playing chess and cards with his siblings and sometimes his
caregivers, doing word puzzles, traveling with his siblings and daughter, watching sports of all
types; i.e., basketball, football, baseball, spending time with his daughter and grandchildren. He adored and appreciated his sister, Sharon, who handled everything involving his care, his needs and his desires. He enjoyed going to cookouts at his sister Sharon’s home and his weekly visits with his brother
Walt, whom he could jokingly “let loose with”. He loved talking to his brothers, Michael and Donald in California, with whom he could never get the time zone right causing him to call in
the middle of the night. Bubbie made everyone he came in contact with love him with his
infectious smile, and his mischievous grin. He had a knack for making people give him what he
wanted with that same infectious smile.
Bubbie adored his grandchildren with all of his heart. Anytime, their name was even
mentioned, he beamed with pride. He loved advising his grandchildren regarding life situations.
Bubbie leaves to celebrate his life and homegoing his loving and devoted daughter, Roxanne
Lella Coles of Santa Barbara, California, three brothers, Melvin Coles of El Cajon, California,
Donald Coles (Victoria) of Chula Vista, California, Walter Coles of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and
one sister, Sharon Sloan (Milford) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, two grandchildren Jordan Palmer
of Santa Barbara, California and Elijah Conkrite of Christiansburg, Virginia, and a host of nieces,
nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends. Thomas was preceded in death by his father,
Melvin Coles, his mother, Lella Coles, his wife, Hope Coles and his nephew, Marvin Hawes, Jr.