Dewey L. Coles, Jr.

Breaux Bridge - Dewey Leonard Coles, Jr., died on August 3, 2016, after a brief illness. Dewey was born in Breaux Bridge on April 28, 1929. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Carol Munson Coles and three children: son Dwight, and wife Anne Minter Coles of Houston, Texas; son John, and wife Debi Gaspard Coles of Lafayette; daughter Cathy, and husband Jay Falcon of Broussard. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Corey Coles and wife Joanna; Katie Falcon Williamson and husband, Franklin; Amie Falcon, Taylor Falcon, and Laney Coles Shirey, and five great-grandchildren: Caitlin Coles, Scarlett Coles, Sloan Williamson, Rosalie Williamson, and Nash Shirey. Dewey was preceded in death by his parents, Dewey Leonard Coles, Sr. and Edna Platt Coles, and his sister, Edna Coles Ritchey. Dewey graduated from Breaux Bridge High School, and attended Southwestern Louisiana Institute and the University of Maryland. He served as a Lieutenant in the 24th Infantry in Japan, and in the Korean War. Dewey later deployed with his family to command U.S. air defense missile units in Germany. Dewey retired from the Army in 1969, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He then embarked upon a second career with the Social Security Administration. Dewey exercised regularly, enjoyed swimming and golf and was a member of Acadian Hills Country Club. He was an avid UL baseball and football fan. Throughout his life, Dewey actively served the community of Acadiana. He served for many years on the Board of Directors of the Crawfish Festival Association and on the Board of Directors for the Lafayette Parish Council on Aging. His pride and joy was the Louisiana Boys State Program, with which he was involved for over 15 years as a member of the Board of Directors, as an Assistant Director, and later as Director. Dewey was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion. He participated in the Breaux Bridge Christmas parades and the Fte de Pont Breaux. Deweys many honors reflect his deep commitment to his country and to his community. Dewey was awarded the Bronze Star with Valor and one Oak Leaf for his meritorious service in the Korean War. He was inducted into the Breaux Bridge Military Hall of Fame in 2001; in 2012 the National Infantry Association bestowed on Dewey the rank of Legionnaire in the Order of St. Maurice. Dewey was inducted into the Crawfish Festival Hall of Fame in 1994 and served as Festival King in 2002 and as Festival Parade Marshall in 2014. In 2012, the Breaux Bridge Area Chamber of Commerce honored Dewey as a 2012 Citizen Extraordinaire. Visitation will begin on Friday, August 5, 2016, from 5:30-8:00 p.m., at Pellerin Funeral Home in Breaux Bridge, with the Funeral Vigil at 6:30 p.m., followed by a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue on Saturday, August 6, 2016, from 7:00-9:00 a.m., followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Breaux Bridge. Scriptures will be read by Anne Minter Coles and Debi Gaspard Coles. Pellerin Funeral Home, 211 Berard St. Breaux Bridge, LA 70517, (337-332-2199), is in charge of arrangements. To view on-line obituary and sign guestbook, go to www.pellerinfuneralhome.com