Judy Coulson's Obituary
Judy Ute Lange Coulson
Born:12/16/1939 Duisburg West Germany
Died: 1/11/2025
Parents: Peter and Otelia Lange
Husband: Steve Coulson Jr.
Son: Steve Richard Coulson and wife Teresa Diane Coulson
Grandchildren: Christopher Coulson and Kylie Coulson
Judy was born in Germany during WW2. Her father Peter lost his leg in France early in the war. This allowed him the opportunity to relocate Otelia and Judy to safety in Austria during the Allied invasion. After 1945 Peter started a river barge business. Judy spent her early teen years in school and helping Peter captain his barge “The Victoria” up and down the Rhine River. After her schooling years. Judy found waitressing was something she loved doing, and also a good way to meet American GIs. That’s where she met Steve. He was a handsome skydiver with a gift for story telling. Steve was raised in Hollywood, Alabama. His story to Judy was that he was from Hollywood, while never bothering to tell her which Hollywood. They wed on June 23 1961. Judy gave birth to their only son, Steve Richard (Ricky) in Wiesbaden West Germany the following year. Steve deployed to Vietnam after Ricky’s birth. Judy and Ricky moved to Hollywood soon after Steve’s deployment. Speaking very little English, Judy loaded a plane with her newborn, and flew to Chicago, where Steve’s sister lived. They then traveled by car to Steve’s family home. Story has it, Judy arrived with Ricky in Hollywood asking ,in her limited English. “Where is the sign?” Steve’s dad informed her that this is not California. This is Alabama! That story led to a long loving 63 year marriage. During her first years in the United States. Judy focused her time raising Ricky during Steve’s two Vietnam deployments, and the rigors of being a career soldier’s wife. After Steve’s military retirement , Charlotte NC became home to the Coulson family. The first thing Judy did was to acquire her American citizenship. This was something that Judy was always proud of. She loved being a citizen of what she always referred to as the greatest country on the planet earth. Judy worked as a waitress until Ricky graduated high school. Whitehouse Inn, The Barringer Hotel,and The Ramada Inn; all being prime Charlotte locations during the late 60s and 70s. She was always happy to tell stories about waiting on Elvis Presley, Mick Jagger, Tom Jones, President Nixon, and other travelers. Everyone loved her German accent mixed with her southern use of “Honey” when having conversations. Judy retired from the service industry in the mid 1980s. She managed the home and helped Steve with his business travels. Judy became a grandmother in 1999 (Christopher) and again in 2002 (Kylie). Judy loved her grandchildren. While Rick and Diane pursued their careers. Judy loved babysitting the grandchildren. They referred to her as “Oma”, German for grandmother. She referred to those years as the best of her life. Judy had a stroke in 2018. During the hospital stay she was diagnosed with dementia/Alzheimers. After another stroke in 2022 she moved into the Preston House memory care facility in Charlotte. Judy never really understood why she was there, and not at home with Steve. Alzheimer’s robbed Judy of her final years, but it never stole her southern, warm, and welcoming phrase “Hi Honey”.
The family would like to extend our gratitude to Hospice and Palliative Care and to the loving caregivers at Preston House.
There will be a Celebration of Life for Judy later this spring.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The Feather Project, a charity near and dear to the Coulson family. Venmo @featherproject, Zelle [email protected], CashApp $featherproject.
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