Extracted from The News-Star (Monroe, LA)
WILLIE ERNEST MEREDITH, JR.
Riser Funeral Home
Services for Willie Ernest Meredith, Jr., age 87 of Wisner will be held at 2 P. M., Saturday, March 17, 2007 from the First Baptist Church in Wisner with Rev. Thomas Peoples officiating. Interment with military honors will follow in the Welcome Home Cemetery in Grayson.
Mr. Meredith was born in Clarks, LA on October 19, 1919 to the union of Willie Ernest and Belle Prestridge Meredith and died Wednesday, March 14, 2007 at the Plantation Manor Nursing Center in Winnsboro.
Ernest began flying at the age of 16. He attended Northwestern State College where he played basketball and was on the swimming team He served as a pilot during World War II where he flew ``the Hump''. After the war, he served as a civilian flight instructor.
He was a good coach, teacher until his retirement in 1979. During his coaching career he had two state championship teams. One at Olla High School in 1949 and one at Wisner High School in 1979.
Coach continued to fly after his retirement and taught many of his friends to fly. He was also an active member of the First Baptist Church in Wisner.
Survivors include his wife: Mary Jo Hawkins Meredith, his daughters: Jo Caldwell and her husband: Mike and Jan Williamson all of Wisner, his grandchildren: Chris Roberts and her husband: Todd, Devin Caldwell and his wife:Tandi and John Williamson, his great-grandchildren: Tyler Roberts, Tanner Roberts, Makayla Roberts, Cade Caldwell and Chelsea Ardoine, his sister: Mary Louise Douglas and her husband: A.J. of Grayson.
Pallbearers will be Bobby Blunt, Devin Caldwell, Todd Roberts, Donald Ross, Tyler Roberts, Paul Douglas, Louis Johnson and James Lachney.
Honorary pallbearers are all his former student athletes.
Visitation will be Friday from 6 P. M. until 9 P. M. at First Baptist Church in Wisner.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Columbia, LA