William Roy Coulter, 82, of Christopher passed away Friday, March 5, 2010, at his home in Christopher with his family at his side.
Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Sunday at the Morton & Johnston Funeral Home in Benton with the Rev. Denny Bush officiating. Burial with military rites by the Orient American Legion was in the Masonic & Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton. Visitation was Saturday at the funeral home.
Bill was born in West Frankfort on May 16, 1927, to Charles and Alice (Fitzpatrick) Coulter.
Bill joined the Navy when he was 16. He was a gunner's mate third class aboard the USS Maurice J. Manuel when she deported Manila Bay bound for Tokyo Bay escorting the SS Winthrop Victory for the signing of the peace treaty with Japan. The latter ship carried high-ranking military and naval officers from the United States, Australia, Canada, China and the Netherlands East Indies to Japanese surrender ceremonies aboard the USS Missouri ending World War II.
Bill was a member of the Teamster Union and employed by Bonfield Bros. Truck Lines for 21 years as a truck driver. He was a member of the VFW of West Frankfort, American Legion of Orient and the Italian Club of Coello. He was also a member of the Family Church of God in Zeigler. His greatest joy was the comfort of family and friends.
Survivors include his wife, Glenna Sue (Green) Coulter of Christopher; daughters, Deloris Clayton and husband, James, of Carterville, Doris Rotolo and husband, David, of Benton, and Alice Dunning and husband, Larry, of Benton; son, Gordon Coulter and daughter-in-law, Karen, of Sesser; grandchildren, Dee Ann Rotolo of Vergennes, Sandy Lynch of Benton, Dawn Jenson of Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., Tammy Hayse of Benton, David Coulter of Sesser, Ellen Lucille Coulter of Sesser and William Cody Coulter of Sesser; seven great-grandchildren; nephews, Robert Mosley and Bill Mosley; niece, Judy Followell; stepchildren, Tammy and Paul Kokott of Menominee, Mich., Tara and Zane Garner of Zeigler, Trell and Harold Cockrum of Pittsburg, and James and Mamie Webb of Broughton; and 15 stepgrandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Ellen (Bettis) Edwards; a sister, Wanda Mosley; a grandson, Robert Carrell; a nephew, Ernest Mosley; and great-grandsons, Matthew and Joshua Hayse.
