Obituary List

William D. Coman, 78 years old, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2026, surrounded by his family after a long illness. Born in Margarita, Panama, in 1947, Bill’s childhood was filled with swimming, fishing, and beach trips in Panama’s tropical climate. In 1955, the USAF transferred his family to Mississippi, and subsequent assignments to Colorado, Hawaii, and Alabama. In Hawaii Bill learned to surf and fell in love with deep-sea fishing. He attended Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery, AL, pursuing his surfing hobby with frequent trips to the Gulf Coast. He also became a lifeguard and certified water safety instructor.

Bill graduated from high school in 1965 and joined the US Navy in 1966. He attended basic training at Great Lakes Naval Training Center and was selected for air traffic control duty, training at Kings Bay, Georgia. Certified, he was stationed at Norfolk NAS, VA aboard the USS America, cruising the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific oceans. His final tour was at Pensacola NAS, where he enjoyed watching the Blue Angels practice.

In summer 1970, Bill left the Navy and worked odd jobs in Pensacola. About a year later he moved back to Montgomery, AL, to be near his mother while his father served in Vietnam. After his father’s return, Bill set out on a new adventure working as an oil field service worker near Rock Springs, WY, for a year in 1973-74.

After a year in Wyoming, Bill moved back to Pensacola in 1974 to escape the cold. There, he and his high school friend bought a sport fishing boat to charter in the Florida Keys. However, they had to repair the boat at Alligator Point, FL, en route. They eventually made it to the Keys where they fished for a couple of months before they returned to Alligator Point in the winter of 1975. Bill decided to stay at Alligator Point, making it his home for the next 50 years. He became an expert charter boat captain even appearing on a sport fishing TV show. He also became a licensed shrimp boat captain but eventually returned to sport fishing charters.

Bill spent most of his adult working life on the ocean and he led a full, fun life his way. Always the life of the party, he will be sorely missed by family and friends.

Bill is survived by his sister Julie Butterfield (Hugh), brother Jim Coman (Linda), brother Mike Coman (Cindy), nephew Andrew Coman (Meghan), and two great nieces. If you would like to make a donation in Bill’s memory the family suggests Big Bend Hospice or a charity of your choice. Private services will be held later.