Constance 'Connie' Coble

CONSTANCE STRATTON COBLE OBITUARY
16 August 1933 " 8 September 2017
COBLE, Constance (Connie) Stratton, devoted wife, loving mother of five children, grandmother to eleven grandchildren, a great-grandmother to nine great-grandchildren, and survived by her husband Hugh K. Coble, passed away peacefully on September 8, 2017, surrounded by loved ones. Born in Washington, DC, on August 16, 1933, Connie was the only daughter of Ruth and Arthur T. Stratton, who was the Chief Patent Attorney for Westinghouse.

Anyone that met Connie will tell you that she would light up a room with her charm, humor, and ever-present smile. She saw beauty in everything and everyone, especially her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Connie loved people and she never met a stranger " she embraced everyone with a loving heart, kind word, and an unforgettable twinkle in her eye.

Connie grew up in Murrysville, PA and helped to raise her younger brother Arthur T. Stratton Jr. (deceased) who became one of the most decorated soldiers during the Vietnam War piloting Huey helicopters over four tours for the US Army Air Calvary and later flying for the CIA. Connie graduated from Franklin High School in Murrysville, PA in 1951 where she danced for eleven years, was a drum majorette for three years, and competed for the US Olympic 3-meter diving team.

After graduating from High School, Connie worked as a secretary for J. Edgar Hoover at the FBI before deciding to major in Chemistry at Margaret Morrison College in 1952. During this time, Connie worked in the research labs of Gulf Oil and US Steel in Pittsburgh, PA. It was here that she met Hugh, a Chemical Engineering major at Carnegie Mellon University, who pinned her shortly thereafter. Connie would often joke that she really went to college for a Mrs. degree and after sixty-one years of marriage to Hugh she clearly was a dedicated student.

On June 2, 1956 she married Hugh, the love of her life, soul mate, and best friend. Four days later they packed their worldly possessions into the backseat of their car and honeymooned their way to El Segundo, California where Hugh began working for Standard Oil of California. While there, Connie worked for TRW as the assistant for the Lead Project Engineer on the Atlas Rocket Project. An immensely talented woman, Connie could have been wildly successful in any profession she pursued.

Connies lifes mission was to safely raise her five children " Keith, Kim, Jon, Neal, and Scott " surrounded by unconditional love, a respect for personal integrity, the courage to strive for excellence, a sincere empathy and compassion for people, and a deep faith and love for the Lord. Connie had high standards, always valuing action over word. Optimistic and caring, but also full of grit and determination, she'd fight to protect her family, like a matriarch elephant protecting her herd. She demanded respect and honor because she spent her entire life giving it away to others. Her faith in the goodness of the Lord, the hallmark of her life, never wavered for a moment.

Connie's life included twenty-two separate relocation moves including twelve years living overseas in England and Holland. During her life overseas, she helped hundreds of American expat wives adjust to living in a foreign country, founded American Women's Clubs in Holland and England, and found great joy in running Church Vacation Bible Schools, sports leagues and school community events for these families. Connies Kitchen became a social hub for the expat community with a warm smile and hot meal on the stove always expecting the unexpected visitor to appear.

Connie loved music and was gifted with an angelic voice and she toured with the award-winning APCH Choir in Europe as a lead Soprano in the 1970s. Connie loved food, wine, friendship, and entertaining and attended the Cordon Bleu School in Bruges, Belgium to become a gourmet chef. She instilled in her children the love of food, cooking, and the importance of fellowship, especially at Holidays, for which her husband and family will also be grateful.

Connie and Hugh retired to Sedona in 1997 and immediately became involved with the vibrant social and cultural activities in Sedona. Connie passionately served in numerous capacities with the Sedona Cultural Park, the Chamber Music Sedona, the Church of the Red Rocks, the Sedona Womens Club, and fought diligently to improve the Hospital Medical Facilities in Northern Arizona. In 2012, Connie was selected as one the 48 Most Intriguing Women in Arizona recognizing her philanthropic service and dedication to improving the social conditions and cultural fabric of Arizona.

Connie was never afraid of death, for she knew exactly where she was going and had tremendous joy, peace and confidence in her heart knowing she was a child of God. Connie was beautiful, witty, smart, passionate and full of personality and flair. In every sense, she lived life to the fullest. Connie accomplished her main mission in life to be an excellent wife, mother, and her legacy of love, beauty, humor, and grace lives on through her family and friends.

A memorial service for Connie will be held at the Church of the Red Rocks at 11:00 AM on September 30, 2017. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Connie's name to Verde Valley Sanctuary, PO Box 595, Sedona, AZ 86339 or The Church of the Red Rocks, 54 Bowstring Drive, Sedona, AZ 86336