Rest in Peace

Wannie Bob Coghill

AUGUST 23, 1940 – DECEMBER 24, 2024

Command Sergeant Major Wannie Bob Coghill, 84 passed away peacefully surrounded by family in Cary, NC on 24 December 2024. CSM Coghill was a decorated Army veteran who served in the Vietnam war and for his country for 30 years.

Bob was born on 23 August 1940 in Henderson, NC, in Vance County to Annie B. Coghill and Deales Obey Coghill. He grew up on a farm where his father grew tobacco and his mother worked at Fram/Facet industries. He was a 1958 graduate of Aycock High School where he played basketball and baseball on the school’s athletic teams.

Bob loved the military and entered the United States Army Reserves while he was still in High School. He entered active duty as a Private 1st Class after completing basic training in September 1958 at Ft. Jackson, SC. Bob was then stationed in Seckenheim, W. Germany where he met the love of his life Waltraut “Trudy” Breuer in September 1959. Bob and Trudy decided to marry in 1961 but their wedding was delayed slightly when Bob was called to duty during the Berlin Wall Crisis.

Throughout his career, Bob was stationed at Seckenheim, W. Germany; Ft. Belvoir/Pentagon VA/DC; Bac Lieu and Saigon, S. Vietnam; Gelnhausen, W. Germany; Seoul, Korea; Heidelberg, W. Germany; and 4 different times at Ft. Bragg, NC. He was a graduate of the Sergeants Major Academy at Ft. Bliss, TX in 1977. During his military career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal (3d Oak Leaf Cluster), Army Achievement Medal and Army Good Conduct Medal (9 awards) just to name a few. CSM Coghill retired in 1988 with 30 years of active duty service as Command Sergeant Major, 507th Transportation Group, COSCOM, Ft. Bragg, NC. After his retirement he became a civilian civil servant at Fort Bragg, NC for the United States Army Special Operations Command from 1989-1999.

Bob was also active in the Masonic Lodge, serving as Master of the Lodge for the Alt Heidelber

Bob was a loving husband, a loving father and grandfather and a brave and honorable soldier. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Waltraut “Trudy” Breuer Coghill, his 2 children, Jeffrey Coghill (Elizabeth) of Greenville, NC and Kay Yvonne Coghill Keeler (Randy) of Apex, NC, granddaughter Caroline Coghill and great grandson Hunter Howington of Jersey City, NJ. Additionally, Bob is survived by his sisters Betty Wright, of Henderson, NC, Brenda Daniels of Arlington, TX, Shelia Newman, of Henderson, NC and Peggy Moss of Henderson, NC.

g Lodge, No. 821, Heidelberg, W. Germany and Creasy Proctor Lodge No. 679, Fayetteville, NC. He also enjoyed his time in the Sudan Temple Shriners and was active in Scottish Rite and York Rite of the Masons. Bob loved to dance with Trudy (his wife) whenever they got the chance, especially dancing to Elvis Presley tunes since he was a HUGE Elvis fan. His near encyclopedic knowledge of American car makes and models never ceased to amaze.

Bob was a loving husband, a loving father and grandfather and a brave and honorable soldier. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Waltraut “Trudy” Breuer Coghill, his 2 children, Jeffrey Coghill (Elizabeth) of Greenville, NC and Kay Yvonne Coghill Keeler (Randy) of Apex, NC, granddaughter Caroline Coghill and great grandson Hunter Howington of Jersey City, NJ. Additionally, Bob is survived by his sisters Betty Wright, of Henderson, NC, Brenda Daniels of Arlington, TX, Shelia Newman, of Henderson, NC and Peggy Moss of Henderson, NC.

Family will receive friends on Wednesday, January 15, 2024 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am at Apex Funeral Home, with Funeral Services beginning at 11:00 am in the Funeral Home Chapel. Full Military Honors will follow at 2:00 pm at Sandhills State Veterans Cemetery in Spring Lake, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Disabled American Veterans at https://help.dav.org.

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Post Service Officer

If you need assistance in filing a new VA claim, want to work on an existing claim, or just want to get information about what benefits you are eligible for, please contact our Post Service Officer.

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