Baker City, Oregon
Oscar Hoffman Coen, 87, of Baker City, died June 23, 2004, at the Idaho State Veterans Home in Boise.
There will be no funeral. His wife, Virginia, will be happy to receive friends and relatives at her home in a few days.
Oscar Coen was born at Hannaford, N.D., on May 11, 1917, to Archie and Mary Coen. He grew up in Pound, Wis., and received his bachelor of science degree at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Shortly thereafter, Col. Coen crossed into Canada to take basic training in flying aircraft with the Royal Canadian Air Force. It was a short time before he found himself in England, flying with the British 71st all American Eagle Squadron, where World War II was in pursuit of victory for the allies.
In 1941 he took a long detour through France, after his fighter plane was damaged by debris from an ammunition train he attacked. Two months later he was back in England, where he proceeded to fly again with the 71st Eagle Squadron. Col. Coen returned to the United States after the war, and flew with the U.S. Air Force until he and his wife, Virginia, retired in 1962 and came to live in Baker City.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia, and three daughters, Carleen Baily of Pennington, New Jersey, Robin Coen of Boise, Idaho, and Tymera Coen of Portland, Oregon.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Marilyn’s Music’s Friday Night Sessions, 1821 Main St., Baker City, OR 97814.
Used with permission from: Baker City Herald, Baker City, Oregon, July 2, 2004
Transcribed by: Belva Ticknor