CARTERVILLE. William Troy Felts III, 80, passed away in the town of his birth, Carbondale, on May 25th. Bill was a U.S. Navy officer from 1962-1969 and lived the remainder of his life in the Carbondale area.
He was born on September 22, 1938, to William Troy Felts II, M.D., and Ethel Kathryn (Croessmann) Felts. He was educated at SIU from kindergarten at University School through Ph.D.
Bill’s service in the U.S. Navy included chief gunnery officer on the U.S.S. Cowell, DD-547, in the Gulf of Tonkin at the beginning of the Vietnam war. After his tour of duty, he was a Navy recruiter, then returned to Carbondale to complete his education at SIU. He worked for many years as a university administrator, then in the private sector in job retraining and development.
On July 28, 1979, Bill married Vera Ruth (Dean) Webel in Carbondale. His children are William Troy Felts IV (Jennifer) of Charlotte, N.C., and Julie Felts Lutz (Will) of Mount Pleasant, S.C. Stepchildren are Nicole Pelly, M.D. (Caleb) of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and Baird Webel (Alissa) of Chevy Chase, Md. His loving grandchildren are Grayson and Logan Lutz, Max and Alexandra Webel, and Hudson Pelly. Bill’s sister, Amelia Jane Case (William, M.D.) of Overland Park, Kansas, also survives.
Bill had many friends and participated in several community and service activities. He was one of the originators of the Spirit of Christmas project carried out by Carbondale churches. Bill served the First Presbyterian and First Christian Churches, as board chair, deacon and choir member. He enjoyed the Walk to Emmaus community and barbershop harmony singing. Special supportive friends include Ray and Bess Shannon and Paul and Charlotte McRoy.
A memorial service will be held at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Carbondale on Fri., June 14. Visitation at the church from 9:30-11; service to begin at 11. Interment of cremains to follow in Oakland Cemetery. Bill’s family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations go to First Christian Church Solar Fund, 306 W Monroe, Carbondale, IL
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