THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, December 27, 1994 TAG: 9412270047
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
DATELINE: NEWPORT NEWS LENGTH: Medium: 53 lines
Forrest W. Coile, AIA, chairman emeritus of Forrest Coile Associates, P.C., died Dec. 25, 1994, in Newport News.
Mr. Coile, known to his friends as ``Frosty,'' was born Sept. 20, 1905, in Mount Vernon, Ohio. He received a bachelor of architecture from Carnegie University, Pittsburgh, in 1926 and a diploma from the Beaux Arts Academy, France, in 1927. He first registered as an architect in Virginia in 1933 and was also a registered architect in seven other states.
He began his practice of architecture in Newport News in 1932 as a partner in the firm of Williams, Coile and Pipino. The firm became Forrest Coile Associates in 1959 and he has served as president and chairman. He retired from active service on the board of directors in 1992. Throughout his 60 years in practice, the firm has been home-based in Newport News and has periodically opened branch offices elsewhere in Hampton Roads, in Italy, Greece, the Middle East and the Caribbean.
Some of the prominent Peninsula landmarks designed under Mr. Coile's direction are Newport News City Hall, Riverside Regional Medical Center, Christopher Newport University, Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Church, period architectural buildings in Yorktown and Williamsburg and numerous public schools, commercial buildings and industrial plants.
Internationally, Mr. Coile was a member of the team that designed major facilities in Saudi Arabia: two major airport terminals, the Saudi Fund for Development Headquarters Building and the Civil Aviation Directorate Headquarters.
Mr. Coile's only break in architectural practice on the Peninsula came during World War II when he served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Army Corps of Engineers for 31 months in Europe. He was highly decorated for his service, earning the Legion of Merit, the Croix de Guerre, Order of the British Empire, Order of the Couronne Belgique and the Bronze Star.
He was a member of the American Institute of Architects including national advisory committees, the Virginia Association of Professions and Peninsula economic development organizations. Mr. Coile was also previously on the board of directors of Signet Bank.
Survivors include his wife, Eloise L. Coile; a son, Thomas L. Coile of Newport News; and eight grandchildren.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday in Peninsula Memorial Park by Father Peter Makris. The family will receive friends at Peninsula Funeral Home from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Contributions may be made to the Virginia Living Museum, 524 J. Clyde Morris Blvd. or the Peninsula Fine Arts Center, 101 Museum Drive, Newport News.
KEYWORDS: DEATH OBITUARY by CNB