James Wyatt Coalson

James Wyatt Coalson
December 9, 1946 - October 21,2022

James was born in San Antonio, Texas on December 9, 1946. He died on October 21, 2022. He was 75 years old. His father was Wyatt Julian Coalson. His mother was Alice Evelyn Majors. James married Jewel Angeline Johnson on June 24, 1967.

James graduated from South San Antonio High School in 1966. He was a Texas State Champion in Basketball & Baseball. He was a First Team All-State Selection in Basketball & Baseball.

James was in the U.S. Navy. He volunteered and served in Vietnam from 1972-1974. He was in the Boy Scouts of America. He volunteered with Special Olympics. James loved working on and racing cars. He was the San Antonio Drag Raceway Pro-Stock champion and the Texas State Pro-Stock Champion. James enjoyed working as a professional cave guide, as well as exploring rogue caves. He and his friend Pat Wertheim discovered a new species of cave salamander that was subsequently classified at the University of Texas. He went on to earn his Master of Science in Material Science Engineering from Wichita State University. He retired from the Federal Government in February 1997.

His grandsons Hunter & Griffin were the true joy of his life for the last 26 years.

James is preceded in death by his father Julian Wyatt Coalson, his mother Alice Evelyn Starosta, his stepfather James Vernon Starosta, his stepbrother James A. Starosta, his sister Arada Trimble and his wife Jewel Angeline Coalson.

James is survived by his son Russell Wade Coalson, his stepbrother Douglas Starosta, his stepbrother George Starosta, his sister Barbara Gravell, his brother-in-law Timothy Johnson, his grandson Hunter Lee Coalson and his grandson Griffin Drake Coalson.