William Eldridge Willoughby

(WADLEY) Services for William Eldridge Willoughby, 82, of Wadley will be Thursday, Aug. 10, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Zion Hill Baptist Church. The Rev. Jeff Freeman will officiate. Burial will follow in the Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.

Mr. Willoughby died Tuesday, Aug. 8, at East Alabama Medical Center, Opelika.

He was born in Daviston on May 4, 1924, to William Walter Willoughby and Ovada Menerva Whaley Willoughby. He was a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon and treasurer of the church cemetery fund. He was a World War II Army Air Force veteran, retired from Russell Corporation after more than 30 years as a loom technician and was employed as a custodian at Horseshoe Bend School since its opening. He enjoyed gardening, was an Alabama football fan, loved the outdoors, and was a man of extreme faith.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Pauline S. Willoughby of Wadley; daughters Gaye Cotney of Tuscaloosa, Joy Black of Daviston and Merry Ledbetter of Atlanta; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers, Boyd Willoughby and Clifford Willoughby of Daviston; sisters, Sadie Sherum of Daviston and Katherine Hester of Wadley.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Jack Willoughby; and a sister, Edna Jones.

Memorial messages may be sent to the family at www.radneyfuneralhome.com.

Radney Funeral Home, Alexander City.