On the morning of November 11, 2023, William ‘Bill’ Lake Coulson, Sr., passed away at home in his sleep; he was 85 years old. Born in 1938 in Hartford, CT, Bill lived in Virginia Beach, VA since 1959 and resided in the community of Sandbridge for more than 40 years. He attended and graduated from the Patton Masonic Homes – School for Boys in Elizabethtown, PA (1947-57), was a diver for the Sun Oil Company (1957-58) and then joined the Navy in 1958. Bill volunteered for Basic Underwater Demolitions training, Class 22, one of eleven to complete the frogman training. He was assigned to US Naval Underwater Demolition Team 21 (UDT-21) at Little Creek Naval Base. But his time with UDT was brief. Soon receiving orders to “newly formed,” Seal Team 2. During his years as a Seal Bill would serve two tours in Vietnam, and numerous operational deployments around the world.

In addition to Combat deployments, Bill Coulson served the Navy in remarkable roles. In 1965, Bill was on a team assisting the splashdown recovery of the Gemini 3 space capsule and astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young. He was also selected as a member of the US Navy Bobsled Team in 1969. And was a member of the 4-man bobsled winning National and North American Championship titles. He competed in the 1970 World Bobsled Championships in St. Moritz, Switzerland, 1971 World Bobsled Championships in Cervenia, Italy and the 1972 Winter Olympics in Saporro, Japan.

Bill retired in 1981 after 23 years of Naval service. His military commendations include: Bronze Star Medal Combat “V,” Presidential Unit Citation; Two Navy Commendation Medals “V,” Combat Action Ribbon, Legion of Merit, and certification in a classified munitions program.

From 1984 – 2000 Bill worked security for the DoD; and from 2000 – 2008 he volunteered as a tram driver at False Cape State Park in Virginia Beach.

Bill is predeceased by father, William Morris Coulson and mother Constance Genigea.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Patricia A. Coulson; son, William L. Coulson Jr.; son, Eric M. Coulson; daughter-in-law, Janet W. Coulson; grandchild, Cory L. Coulson; sister, Anna Hess; sister, Constance M. Coulson along with many nieces, nephews and extended family.

Bill requested to be cremated and have his ashes scattered in the ocean.