William I. Coons, Iii

William I. Coons, III, 91 of Carmel, passed away Tuesday, October 25, 2016. Bill was born April 4, 1925 in Indianapolis to the late William I., Jr., and Margaret Graves Coons.

Bill enlisted in WWII in the US Army Air Corp in his senior year of high school. He was assigned to the 486th bomb group of the 8th Air Force based in England as the 2nd Lieutenant and lead navigator flying B-17 combat missions. As a decorated veteran he received the Distinguished Flying Cross for leading his squadron on missions against Nazi held targets in Germany. He was awarded 3 air medals with two Oak-leaf clusters, Presidential Unit Citation, Central Europe Campaign Medal and two Battle Stars.

Bill was on the sales staff at National Wine and Spirits for 35 years. He was a member of the Pentalpha Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite, Murat Shrine, Royal Order of Jesters, the American Legion and the 486 Bomb Group Association.

Family and friends are invited to gather from 12:30 to 2:30 pm on Tuesday, November 1 at Flanner and Buchanan-Carmel, where the funeral service will be held at 2:30 pm. immediately following the service there will be a Military Honors service at Oaklawn Memorial Gardens.

Bill was loved for his wit, humor and tender heart and will be deeply missed by many. He was a devoted husband and father. The family would like to express their gratitude for the compassionate care that was given to him by the staff at the Plaza of the Barrington of Carmel. Bill was the widower of Phyllis Little Coons, his high school sweetheart, to whom he was married 64 years. He was preceded in death by his sister Betty Ann Woods. He is survived by his daughters, Deborah (Stephen) Clark and Kathryn (Mark) Canada; three grandchildren, Stephen (Christina) Clark, Jami (Zachary) Potter, and David (Sarah) Canada; 10 great-grandchildren; nephew, David Woods, and niece Barbara Adams.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or Shriners Hospital for Children. Please visit flannerbuchanan.com to sign the online guest register.