Charles Coldwell

East Lyme — Charles William “Bill” Coldwell, 92, of Niantic, passed away on Friday, Oct. 19, 2018, at Lawrence + Memorial Hospital in New London.

Bill was born in New York City, on May 10, 1926, the son of Everett S. and Charlotte (Bates) Coldwell. He married Phyllis E. Wilson of Norwich, on May 9, 1953, and they resided in Bronxville, N.Y., Chappaqua, N.Y., Mystic and most recently in Niantic.

Bill was a World War II veteran serving in Korea. After the war he served as 1st Lt. commanding the 7th Infantry Division Palace Guard, posted to the U.S. — Soviet Commission that was to jointly govern Korea.

He left Bronxville High School early at age 17 to volunteer in the Army. He attended VMI, OCS, and, after military training, Williams College. He began his broadcasting career as a page with NBC and retired 37 years later as VP national sales manager of Seltel Inc., a TV station representative firm located in NYC.

He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his four sons, Jeffrey and his wife, Susane, Charles Jr. and his wife, Deborrah, Scott and his husband, Kevin and Mark and his wife, Leann; eight grandchildren and two great-granddaughters.

He was predeceased by his brother, Robert, on June 23, 2011.

Bill was a 32nd-degree Mason and past master of Gramatan Lodge in Bronxville. He served many years as a deacon of the West Center Congregational Church of Bronxville, First Congregational Church of Chappaqua, N.Y., and the Mystic Congregational Church, 43 E. Main St., Mystic, where a memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Oct. 29, 2018. In addition, he spent many years as an active member of the Mystic Historic Commission and the Cable TV Advisory Commission.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Mystic Congregational Church or the Memorial Garden at Groton Long Point.