Coalson, Jr., Melvin "Bernie," died the morning of October 5, 2010 from complications following surgery. Born on September 20, 1944, he was 66 years old at the time of death. Bernie was born at Fort McPherson Army Base in Atlanta, GA to Melvin (Mel) Coalson and Mary Coalson. His surviving immediate family members are: daughter Kim Coalson and son-in-law Bill Radford of Santa Barbara, CA; son Mathew Coalson of Naples FL; and brother Marty Coalson and sister-in-law Diane Coalson, niece Jenna Coalson and nephew Michael Coalson of Omaha, NE. Bernie graduated from Riverside Military Academy in 1962 and went to work for Lockheed Martin as a machinist. Not long after, in 1964, Bernie married the Milton High School homecoming queen, Gail McGinnis. During the intervening years between his marriage and eventual induction into the military Bernie attended East Carolina University. In 1967 Bernie was inducted into the Army. He and his new wife were stationed in Fort Carson, Colorado Springs, CO. Bernie attained the rank of Master Sargent as a military policemen. When asked about his service Bernie liked to brag, "No Viet-Cong ever set foot in Colorado Springs on my watch!" Bernie was honorably discharged in 1969. After his military service Bernie began a long and distinguished career in sales. His first child, Kim was born in 1972. Seven years later his second child, Matt, joined the family. Bernie worked as sales manager for several companies through those years, notably, Glamourtop. During these years the family resided in Alpharetta, GA and then Birmingham, AL. In 1984 Bernie and Gail separated, and shortly after the divorce Bernie moved to Southern California where he joined Sani-Top and then VTI Industries. He remarried Luci Ritchie in 1987 bringing two more children, Marc and Tiffany into his family. Bernie and Luci separated in 2008. Bernie came to love California and called it home. He was funny and smart, with a passion for history, military affairs, and geography. When he met new people he took pride in knowing details of the city, state, or country they came from. His friends were everywhere and you always knew when he visited because they always greeted him by name. That may have been the only thing he loved as much as his family, walking into a place and being, welcomed, acknowledged, and loved. He was. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to his mother's scholarship fund: Mary Coalson Memorial Scholarship Fund - C/O Ladies Auxiliary, American Legion Post 201, 201 Wills Rd, Alpharetta GA 30009, to honor Bernie's life.