Benjamin Thomas Thomas (Coleman) Coleman Obituary

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Benjamin Thomas Coleman (Paso Robles, California), who passed away on April 8, 2019, leaving to mourn family and friends. Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family.
Benjamin Thomas Coleman beloved son of Victoria Dabney Wells, step- father, David Francis Wells and father Thomas Coleman, brother of Camille Marie Coleman and step-brothers Dr. Sean Wells and Casey Wells, passed away at home in Paso Robles on March 26th 2019. Ben was predeceased by his grandparents Dr. John Charles Rooney and Eleanor Esther Dabney of Pacific Palisades, CA and Mr. Fay Coleman and Fern Coleman of Mar Vista, CA Ben was born at St. John’s Hospital in Santa Monica on 11/12/1980 Ben was a beautiful, selfless, gentle, kindhearted man who loved his family, music , art, photography, animals and playing Chess with his Mom. He took piano lessons at the age of 5 and his instructor said that Ben could read music better, after just a few lessons than many of the teenagers he taught. Ben was able to play many different musical instruments with very little instruction. He was also talented with his artwork and achieved top grades in his art classes. Ben was a Boy Scout from the time he was a little Webaloe until he joined Sea Scouts as a teenager, in Marina del Rey, CA and completed his Eagle Merit Badge. He attended the private high school, Westchester Neighborhood School and Santa Monica College before joining the Navy in 2001 as a Damage Controlman. The Navy’s Damage Controlmen do the work necessary for damage control, ship stability, firefighting, fire prevention, and chemical, biological and radiological warfare defense. Ben said he chose Damage Control to help him become a Fire fighter when he left the Navy. Ben also excelled and was appointed to Ship’s Patrol and security to monitor the sailors coming back to the ship after their leave making sure they were sober and ready for work the next day. Ben was stationed in Norfolk Virginia in the Atlantic Fleet and spent 4 years on the aircraft carrier, the USS George Washington traveling extensively through the middle east and Europe and finally at the end of his active duty, drove across the United States with his best friend, Rick Parker visiting as many states as they could. Ben’s love of music led him to meet and eventually tour with the bands, Resurex and Necromantics, helping with behind the scenes technical work. He met those bands when he was on leave in Virginia. Ben continued to stay in the Navy reserves for an additional 4 years after active duty and often said he wished they would call him to come back to duty. While in the Navy Ben earned the Sea Service Deployment ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, The Good Conduct Medal, The M16 Rifle Expert Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Navy “E” Ribbon, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, and the 9 mm pistol sharpshooter ribbon. Most of all Ben earned the title of “Hero” in our family. Ben never accepted the term “Hero” from his beloved family. He felt that he needed to be on the front lines to have achieved that label but he devoted 8 years of his young life to the Navy and never knew if he’d return in one piece, so he was our Hero. Ben was an amazing photographer who often could be found in the middle of the night at our home in Paso Robles, photographing the night sky in time lapsed photography. He loved nature and was in awe of the beauty that he found living out on our little ranch in Paso Robles. He also was an incredible cook who refused to read a recipe. Anyone who knew Ben raved about his cooking. He was almost the happiest working in our kitchen and serving people. Ben spent time in downtown Los Angeles trying to help people he found on skid row. He never thought about himself but wanted to save everyone he met. He loved children and especially animals. He was involved in the Veteran’s program at Monty Roberts ranch in Santa Ynez. Monty set up the program to help Veteran’s with PTSD and Ben needed help regarding his PTSD. Through Monty Roberts he learned how to handle horses in such a gentle way that he was amazing to watch. Ben worked with our horses daily and when I tried to give him some pointers or advice he said he wanted to do it his way. He did not believe in being rough or aggressive with any animals and he even made close friends with our young stallion. Ben taught our stallion how to return a ball that was kicked to him and daily spent time with our stallion playing ball. As Ben’s Mother I could go on for pages and pages about what an incredibly loving man he was. Everyone who knew him felt the same way. God took our Benjy to help him in Heaven but the pain of his absence will never leave us. Benjy you are with us every single minute of every day until we feel your great big, warm hugs once again in Heaven.