Ursula Wilde Coates of Sugar Land died April 6 of cancer. She was born May 18, 1922 in Hamburg, Germany and came to the United States in 1928 with her parents Caroline and Heinrich (Henry) Wilde. She received her education in California and was an accomplished pianist appearing on many radio shows in the 1940’s.

Her husband, Colonel Harry Reynolds Coates preceded her in death in 1999. Prior to his retirement from the US Army, they traveled and lived around the world. After retirement, they settled in Sugar Land where in 1972 Mrs. Coates founded The Secretary Inc., a temporary employment service. She was the first female member and board member of the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce.

The Chamber recently honored her by establishing the Ursula Coates Award annually given to an outstanding chamber member. She was also an active board member of the Literacy Council of Fort Bend County, the Federation of Houston Professional Women and several Republican Women organizations in Fort Bend County and Harris County.

Previously, she had been an active member of the Texas Association of Business. Mrs. Coates also served on President George H.W. Bush Small Business Task Force Committee, traveling frequently to Austin and Washington D.C.

She is survived by two daughters Linda Ann Coates Carlson of Washington, D.C. and Marsha Reynolds Coates Schenau and her husband Aart of Houston; her brother Camillo (Mel) Wilde of California; five grandchildren: Paul Ross Reynolds Carlson and Peter Hume Heinrich Carlson of Washington D.C. and, Esther Elizabeth, Ruth Anna and Mary Abigail Schenau of Houston; and, many nieces and nephews in California and Nevada.

The Coates Family would like to thank Dianne and Bob Wilson, Helen Williams, Penny and Carl Howk, Glenn Michael and many others for their long and loving friendship. A big thanks to all those who maintained a steady flow of cards, emails, flowers, calls and visits to encourage Ursula and her family.

She will be remembered and missed as a loving working mother, a friend to animals and a woman that always shared her opinion. They also express their appreciation to the dedicated doctors, nurses and staff at Methodist Hospital in Houston, Parkway Place in Houston and Compassionate Care Hospice Services in Houston for their caring and attention to their mother during her illness.

Mrs. Coates will be buried with her husband at the Houston National (Veteran’s) Cemetery. A Memorial Tribute is being held Wednesday, April 9 from 5 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce at 445 Commerce Green Boulevard in Sugar Land (281-491-0800).