This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.iowa.counties.harrison/4204/mb.ashx Message Board Post: Coret, William Francis "Bill" Aug. 3, 1924 - Feb. 4, 2007 Logan Herald-Observer 2/14/2007 United States Marine Corp (Retired) Died at age 82 on Feb. 4, 2007 after a brief illness. Bill was born to Sofie Coret Fritch and Newton Wright on Aug. 3, 1924 in Bridgeport, Conn. His mother named him 'Billy Sunday' in honor of the famous 20th century American Evangelist, a popular revivalist at that time. Beginning at age four, he spent the remainder of his childhood at St. Francis Orphanage in New Haven, Conn. During that time, the Sisters of Mercy changed his name to William Francis. At age 17, he enlisted in the Marine Corps and spent the next 22 years stationed at various military bases around the United States including the Santa Ana Lighter Than Air Base, Calif., the Marine Air Force Base, Cherry Point, N.C. and the Marine Base, Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii. Additionally, he was stationed for two years at Kanoya Air Force Base, Kagoshima, Japan. During his career he performed aircraft maintenance, administrative and recruitment duties. In 1953, he married Norma J. Ehlert of Woodbine. To this union, four children were born. He retired in 1967 from the Marine Corp as Gunnery Sergeant, having served in the Korean conflict. Following his military career, he served as a Harrison County Court bailiff, then taught aircraft mechanics at Iowa Western Community College. He resided in Woodbine following his military retirement until he moved to the Iowa Veterans Home in Marshalltown, Iowa in 2005. He was greatly interested in, and had an encyclopedic knowledge of all types of aircraft, particularly those used during WWII, including lighter-than-air machines (dirigibles). He conducted extensive research and correspondence with other aircraft aficionados, engineers and those who published or contributed to books and magazine articles regarding WWII aircraft. Survivors are sons Christopher and wife Susan of Marietta, Ga., Jonathan of Jefferson City, Mo., Peter and wife Diane of Woodbine, Iowa, and daughter Caroline and husband Glenn Walsh of Franklin, Tenn. He has five grandsons, Jonathan Coret, Aaron Coret, Private Patrick Coret (USMC), Stephen Walsh and Samuel Walsh; one granddaughter Tanya Coret; and one great grandson Parker Coret-Rife. He is also survived by sisters Rita Ruetter of St. Louis, Mo., Sophia Perry and Lillian Cotto of Bridgeport, Conn., Rose Sheldon of St. Augustine, Fla., Viola Elliott of Tutsin, Calif. and numerous nieces and nephews. Preceding him in death were his mother, father, stepmother Edna Wright and sister Olga Blanchard. Following a graveside service, he was interred Feb. 7 at the Veteran's Cemetery in Marshalltown.