William Earl McCoy Sr.

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you” ~ Exodus 20:12

William Earl McCoy, Sr., affectionately known to many as “Bill,” was born March 21, 1933, in Ripley, Tennessee, one of ten children born to the union of the late Jessie and Cornelia (Easterwood) McCoy.

William attended South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he played football and excelled in his classes. In 1952, he accepted Christ into his life and that same year, he graduated in the top ten of his class with Honors. He briefly attended Grand Rapids Junior College and then enlisted in the United States Army, where he served during the Korean War for two years before his honorable discharge in 1955.

Later, he chose carpentry as his profession and worked as a skilled carpenter until his retirement September 1, 1988. He remained an active member of Mid-America Carpenters Regional Council. Moreover, William was a mathematical genius who after his retirement, taught advanced math and carpentry courses for several years.  As a result of his instruction, advice, and job placement assistance, hundreds of students learned new skills and found meaningful employment in the field of carpentry.

William enjoyed his life to the fullest, but his greatest passion was bowling. His love for bowling started as a teenager while working after school at the Grand Rapids, Michigan Elks Club setting pins and bowling for free.  He became a legendary American Bowling Congress performer receiving numerous acknowledgements and awards for bowling perfect-games (300 score), league championships, and many other individual honors and accolades.

In the early 1960s, he had an opportunity to bowl professionally with the fledgling Pro Bowlers Tour. Later in life, he was co-owner of Dalton Bowl in Cicero, Illinois. William also had an affinity for playing pool/billiards and treasured sharing his exceptional skills with his son, William, Jr.

After God blessed William with over 91 years of life, he transitioned peacefully on October 19, 2024, surrounded by his children. He was preceded in death by his son, Kenneth McCoy, parents, Jessie and Cornelia McCoy, three sisters: Willie Lee Hopkins, Shirley Roscoe, and Sharon Thomas, five brothers: Ernest McCoy, Lacy McCoy, Robert McCoy, Richard McCoy, and Frank McCoy.

William leaves to cherish and celebrate his life: his wife, Rosie (Harden) McCoy, one son, William (Denise) McCoy, Jr., two daughters: Maríka McCoy Burton,Jane (Richard) Price, six grandchildren: Kenísha Walker, TeÅ•rece Walker, Erin (Daryl) Williams, Meísje Burton, Krystyn (David) Harrell, and Shannon McCoy, two great-grandchildren: Ryan Williams and Jourdyn Harrell, one sister, Doris Berry, former spouse, Evelyn Thomas, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

William will be laid to rest in a United States National Cemetery with full military funeral honors.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.” ~ 2 Timothy 4:7,8

Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” ~Luke 23:43

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