William H. Coleman MD

Dr. William H. Coleman died at his home on May 14, 2025. Born 9/13/2019 in Dutch Neck, NJ, Dr. Coleman grew up on a farm in Princeton. He graduated from the Lawrenceville School in 1938 and Princeton University in 1942. He was on the track team at both schools and ran in the 1938 Penn relays. While at Princeton he also was the co-manager of the Cannon Club. He graduated from Temple Medical School in 1945 where he had been part of the U.S. Navy V12 program. Dr. Coleman did his internship at Philadelphia General Hospital and proceeded to serve in active duty in the Navy as a Lt JG for 2 years. Years later he would serve as Temple Medical Alumni President from 1975-1977. In 1949 he opened a family practice in Ewing Township and joined the staff of Mercer Medical Center, now a part of the Capital Health System. From 1950 to 1954 he was the sole school physician for Ewing Township. He closed his family practice in 1954 and entered a Surgical Resident program at Abington Memorial Hospital under Dr. Calvin Smyth. Upon completion, he returned to Trenton in formal partnership with Dr's. Samuel Lloyd and Raymond McCormick with a practice limited entirely to surgery. He was orthopedic consultant to Princeton Neuropsychiatric Institute and consultant in surgery to the Trenton Psychiatric Hospital for many years. He was appointed to the NJ Pension fund Medical Review Board in 1959 where he served for 45 years. Upon retiring from his surgical practice in 1977, he continued to work for Mercer Hospital as an Emergency room physician until 1986. He then worked at Meadow Lakes Retirement Community until he finally retired as Medical Director in 1997. In 1995 he was honored with the Golden Merit Award for completing 50 years of distinguished service as a practicing physician from the Medical Society of New Jersey. Dr. Coleman was a member of the AMA, NJ Medical Society, Abdominal Surgical Society, Emergency Room Physicians Society, and the Mercer County Medical Society, where he served as past president. He was a lifelong member of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceville, where he served as an Elder and a Deacon. He was also a member of Masonic Lodge #50, the Blocker Medical Society of Philadelphia and the Old Guard of Princeton. Dr. Coleman had many outside interests. One of his favorite past times was skiing in various parts of the US and Europe. He had a passion for sports; as a season ticket holder for both Princeton football and basketball, he enjoyed coaching the team from afar with his fellow season ticket holders. Dr. Coleman knew he wanted to be a doctor since he was a young boy. He loved medicine and helping others. Even though he worked long hours he always found the time to be at his son's sporting events. He was all about trying to help his family be all they can be and was a true family man. Dr. Coleman was predeceased by his wife of 56 years Mary E. (Bettie) Coleman, his parents, Charles H Coleman and Jean W Coleman, his sister Catherine Cook and her husband Frederick, his brother James A Coleman and his wife Virginia, and his son-in-law Paul D. Deen. He is survived by his daughter, Gabrielle Deen and 4 sons, William H Coleman Jr, Mace B Coleman (Christine), Todd B. Coleman (Arianna) and Dustin L. Coleman. He has four grandchildren, Mace O. Coleman, Zachery Coleman (Jackie), Garrett Coleman and Lyndsey Coleman. He also has four step grandchildren, Michael Deen (Laura), David Deen (Kate), Rachel Deen, Lydia Ward and 5 great step grandchildren, Margot, Eloise, Parker and Avery Deen and Makenzie Bronson along with several beloved nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held at Pennswood Village, 1382 Newtown-Langhorne Rd, Newtown, PA on July 19th at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer a donation to the Pennswood Village Foundation designated for the PVRA Employee Holiday Fund or the Employee Scholarship Funds in his memory. Contact information via phone 866-935-1544 or online at Pennswood.org/foundation