Coeburn Poore

Coeburn Poore, age 91, passed away on Thursday, February 15, 2024. He was born on October 10, 1932, in Saltville, Va., to the late James Gibson Poore and Virginia Ruth Colley Poore. After graduating from R. B. Worthy High School, he moved to Baltimore, Md. to work for Glen L. Martin Aircraft Company.  

 Coeburn joined the U.S. Air Force, serving four years during the Korean War and then four years active ready reserves, serving with the 509^th Bomb Wing Headquarters in New Mexico and Wyoming and overseas. He served one of those years with the 97th Bomb Wing in Oklahoma and was awarded the Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster. His job in the Air Force required him to have top secret clearance. He was honorably discharged with a rank of Staff Sergeant.  

 He attended National Business College in Roanoke, Va., East Tennessee State College, and completed Business Management courses at University of Kansas and East Texas University.  

 He was awarded a lifetime membership in the Institute of Management Accountants and served on the Board of Directors of the East Tennessee Chapter for several years. He was a member of the Bristol Host Lions Club for many years, past member of the Telephone Pioneer Club, and served on the Board of Directors of the United Federal Credit Union (now the United Southeast Federal Credit Union) for several years. He also served on several Independent Telephone Association committees in the Southeast as well as the Tennessee Tax Payers Committee in Nashville. 

 Coeburn retired as Controller (Finance Officer) from United Telephone System after 33 years of service. This telephone system operated companies in Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. 

 Coeburn was a longtime member of Fellowship Chapel where he served several years on the Board of Deacons and was a member of Rev. Lester MacKinnon and Alex Todd’s Sunday School Class. A devout Christian, he spent each day reading the bible and worshiping God. 

 An avid sports enthusiast, Coeburn was a volunteer worker in the Bristol, Tenn. youth baseball program for several years. He was a big Tennessee “Vols” fan for more than 60 years, as well as a Dallas Cowboys and Atlanta Braves fan. Coeburn attended all his son’s and granddaughters’ sporting events. He loved the game of golf, spending many days playing with family and friends throughout the Tri-Cities. He was a longtime member of Glenrochie Country Club where he scored five holes-in-one (two in one day). He played over 160 courses throughout the US, and he and his wife attended over 20 PGA golf tournaments.  In sports the thing he enjoyed most was following his son’s sporting events from Little League to college. 

 Coeburn lived most of his life in Bristol and Abingdon. He and his wife enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and in several other countries. 

 In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Buford Poore and Thomas Poore; and three sisters, Kathleen Frye, Dorothy Cowan, and Jean Brannon.  

 He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Shirley Poore; one son, Darrell E. Poore of Johnson City, Tenn. and fiancée Glenda Miller of Lawndale, N.C.; brother, Chester Poore and wife Betty of Emory, Va.; sister, Jackie Sproles and husband Bill of Glade Spring, Va.; twin granddaughters, Haley Shipley and husband Kevin of Kingsport, Tenn. and Holly Easterby and husband Ryan of Alpharetta, Ga.; four great-grandchildren, Ried and Reese Easterby, and Bo and Luke Shipley; and special brother-in-law Carl Cowan of Lynchburg, Va.; and several nieces and nephews. 

 Graveside services will be held on Monday, February 19, 2024, at 2:00 PM in the Forest Hills Memory Gardens with Pastor Scott Price officiating and Larry Bays as Eulogist.  

 The family of Coeburn Poore is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service & Crematory – Main Street Location, 427 E. Main Street, Abingdon, VA 24210 276-623-2700.