Frank Stewart Coleman

Commander Frank Stewart Coleman, United States Navy, Retired, of Roswell, Georgia, passed away on Monday, November 26, 2018 at age 91. Frank was born on July 6, 1927 in Savannah, Georgia, a son of the late Dr. Robert Swann Coleman and Carobell Stewart Coleman.

In his youth, Frank was active in sports, achieved Eagle Scout rank with the Boy Scouts, and began flying lessons at age 17. He enlisted in the Navy V-6 Program in 1945 and served on active duty at NAS Norfolk, Virginia, before returning to Georgia to begin college. He attended Georgia Tech and Armstrong Junior College before entering Navy flight school in the NAVCAD program. He received his wings of gold and was designated a Naval Aviator and commissioned an Ensign in March 1950.

Shortly after being commissioned, he married the love of his life, Mary Louise Keel, at the Peachtree Christian Church in Atlanta. Their Navy family odyssey began with Frank’s first Navy squadron in Bermuda, where he flew PBM and P5M seaplanes. Throughout his career, he was assigned as a flight instructor in Pensacola, Flight Deck Officer in USS Philippine Sea, and later transitioned to jet aircraft, flying A-3D Skywarrior aircraft on various aircraft carriers. He was also a student at the Naval Postgraduate School as well as the Naval War College. Frank commanded VAP-62, an RA-3B heavy photographic squadron at NAS Jacksonville. He was the Air Operations Officer in the aircraft carrier USS Shangri-la before retiring. He was a World War II and Vietnam veteran.

After retiring, Frank and Louise settled in Roswell. He was designated a Naval Science Instructor and led Navy Junior ROTC programs for sixteen years at three Atlanta area high schools. Along the way, Frank also had a career in real estate as a Broker/Agent for Century 21. While his flying career had ended, Frank soon took up his passion for cars. He and Louise owned two vintage Jaguars and were active members of the Atlanta Jaguar Society where Frank served many years as President. He was also an active member of the Roswell Rotary Club. Throughout his life, he was not only dedicated to his work and community, but more importantly to his loving wife of 66 years, their four children and many grand and great grand-children. Frank was a wonderful husband, father, great grandfather, brother and friend; he will certainly be missed by all who knew and loved him.

Along with his parents, Frank is preceded in passing by his beloved wife, Mary Louise Coleman, and brother, Robert Coleman.

He is survived by his four children, Frank S. Coleman Jr, wife Annmarie, of Goodyear, Arizona, Elizabeth Greenwood of Roswell, Georgia, Robert W. Coleman, wife Anne, of Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina, and Rebecca Flannery, husband Michael of Cumming, Georgia; ten grandchildren: Frank S. Coleman III, Ashley Frisbie, Anna Greenwood, Wesley Greenwood, Billy Greenwood, Robert Coleman Jr., Polly Coleman, Margaret Smith, Jake Williams, and Sydney Williams; three great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

A Memorial Service to honor the life of Mr. Frank Stewart Coleman will be held at three o’clock in the afternoon on Friday, December 7, 2018, at St. David’s Episcopal Church in Roswell.

In lieu of customary remembrances the family request donations be made to the Fisher House www.fisherhouse.org

Please visit www.roswellfuneralhome.com to share memories and leave condolences with the family.

The funeral services for Mr. Frank Stewart Coleman have been entrusted to the care of Roswell Funeral Home, 950 Mansell Road Roswell, Georgia 30076.