Naomi Irene Coats

Naomi Irene Coats, 81, of Fort Wayne, passed away peacefully on March 5, 2026. Born on March 31, 1944, in Green Center, Indiana, to the late Teddy and Carnie (Herron) Pippenger, she spent most of her life in Fort Wayne, where she created a home rooted in faith, family, and quiet service to others.

For more than twenty years, Naomi worked as an assembler at Magnavox in Fort Wayne. After retiring, she found great joy in babysitting, nurturing the children in her care with the same warmth and patience that defined her character. A woman of deep faith, she was a longtime member of Calvary Temple, where she served faithfully as a Sunday school teacher for many years before later attending The Ridge Church.

Above all, Naomi cherished her role as a homemaker. She took pride in canning and freezing corn each season and loved opening her home to family and friends. Her greatest happiness came from time spent with her grandchildren, who filled her life with pride and delight.

She is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Paul D. Coats; her daughter, Debra Guy; three sons, Craig (Robin) Coats, Tim (Beth) Coats, and Jeremy Coats; eleven grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren; her siblings, Ted Pippenger, Ruth (Gene) Pressler, and James (Carolyn) Pippenger; and many loving family members and friends who will miss her deeply.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Teddy and Carnie Pippenger, and her siblings, Dan Pippenger, David Pippenger, Ester Anderson, Phillip Pippenger, Paul Pippenger, and Dorcas Pressler.