Philip Nolan Williamson, 75, of Coupeville, died May 4, 2003, at his residence of lung cancer.

He was born Aug. 15, 1927, in Tacoma to Thurman and Madeline Katzenberger Williamson. Following his mother’s death when he was 1 year old, his father moved him and his sister, Virginia, to Yakima. He was raised by his father and stepmother in Yakima, where he got his first job as a newsboy at age 10.

In 1942, Mr. Williamson, then 15, lied about his age and joined the Navy. He served in one of the first underwater demolition teams that cleared a number of beachheads in the South Pacific. This was a time when SCUBA had not been invented, and the UDT teams wore tennis shoes instead of fins. He also served with underwater demolition teams during the Korean War.

He also served on a number of surface vessels and two diesel fleet submarines, ending his career as an ETC (E-7) on the Polaris-class nuclear submarine USS Thomas Edison. He met and married his wife, Rowena Leach, while serving on the Edison in Groton, Conn.

Mr. Williamson received a degree in engineering at Healds College in San Francisco and at graduation was hired by Varian Associates. He was an international liaison officer and export manager, living in San Jose. He retired in 1991. During the years he lived in San Jose, he was active in civic and environmental groups and developed a love of bridge that lasted the rest of his life. At the time of his death, he was a member of the Oak Harbor Duplicate Bridge Club and was a Regional Master.

After moving to Coupeville in December of 1990, Mr. Williamson became involved in various civic volunteer groups and was serving his second term as town councilman at the time of his death.

He was a member of the Coupeville Lions Club and Veterans of Foreign Wars. He enjoyed making furniture, and the Williamson home has bookcases and a Shaker dresser and bench he built. He began work on his genealogy, which led to the discovery of his long-lost sister and her family.

Phil joined the Scottish American Military Society, where one of his great thrills was carrying the American flag through massed pipe bands, dressed in his clan Gunn kilt.

Mr. Williamson will be remembered by his many friends and relations for his wicked sense of humor and of the ridiculous, his willingness to speak out for what he believed in, his sense of patriotism, his love of Western movies and “all that Scottish stuff.” He liked music, especially baroque, Scottish and bluegrass. He delighted in engaging in verbal duels and skewering overinflated egos.

He leaves behind Rowena, his wife of 42 years; sons Philip II of Coupeville and Andrew of Seattle; and many loving friends and relatives.

Memorials may be made to the Town of Coupeville Memorial Fund or Friends of Home Health and Hospice in care of Whidbey General Hospital. A memorial celebration will be held in June.

Cremation was held. Burial at sea will follow under the auspices of the Navy.