I came across this obituary that I had written notes on from awhile back regarding the death of Mr. Coffey on December 20, 2007, the oldest US veteran at the time age 109.
At the time, he was one of the only three surviving Doughboys from the War to End All Wars. The one my two grandfathers and a great uncle were in, but only my great uncle saw action.
More than 4.7 million American men joined the military from 1917 to 1918. Mr. Coffey never saw combat and was in basic training when the war ended.
At the time, the two surviving veterans were Frank Buckles, 106 of Charles Town, West Virginia, and Henry Richard Landis, 108, of Sun City Center, Arizona, 108. John Babcock, 107, of Spokane, Washington, served in the Canadian Army, the last-known Canadian veteran.
Other World War I veterans who died in 2007: Emiliano Mercade de Toro, 115, oldest person in the world at the time. Charlotte Winters, 109, last-known female veteran of the war.
Coffey enlisted while attending Ohio State University in October 1918, one month before the Armistice. two older brothers fought overseas.
He was born September 1, 1898, and played semi-pro baseball in Akron. He later earned a doctorate in education from New York University before starting a career in education. His daughter said he delivered newspapers as a boy and would read them to immigrants, "That was the beginning of him being a teacher." he later returned to Ohio State and earned two more degrees.
A junior high and high school in Phelps, Kentucky and Findley, he taught phys ed at Bowling Green State University from 1948 to 1969 and married Bernice in 1921. She died in 1993.
He had a remarkable memory and was quite independent near the end of his life, driving a car until age 104 and lived on his own until age 105. He was a swimmer and credited healthy eating and exercise for his longevity.
From "Oldest US WW I Vet Dies in Ohio at 109" by John Seewer, AP.
Another Great Generation. --Cooter
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