William B. Rakestraw

William was born on September 10, 1926 in Rome, Georgia to the late Mr. Vernon Rakestraw and Mrs. Stella Rakestraw. The couple also had six other children. William married Ina Odene Green of Marietta, Georgia on September 12, 1948. He and Odene spent 71 years of marriage together in Marietta, GA until Odene passed on March 23, 2020.

William graduated from Georgia State University and then Atlanta Law School where he earned a Law Degree in 1954. He served twice in the military; for the Navy in Corpus Christi, TX, and in San Diego, CA from 1943 to 1945 and for the Air Force in Coco Beach, FL from 1950 to 1951.

William was a business owner throughout his work career and retired from the Kennestone Hospital Security Department. He was a devoted Christian and his passion was sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His deep spiritual faith followed him throughout his life. He served as part of a prison ministry, was a Gideon, and served as a Deacon and Sunday school teacher at Marietta First Baptist Church. He loved to talk and sing about Jesus wherever he went. William was a member of Roswell St. Baptist Church and the Sonshiners at the time of his passing. William’s kind spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. His family was so blessed to have his Godly influence in their lives. We Love you Daddy!

William is preceded in death by his parents, and loving wife, Odene.

He is survived by his four daughters; Susan Carol (Donny) Haney, of Sparta, GA, Nancy Katherine (Nick) Goscha, of Dallas, GA, Dr. Anne Patricia Murray of Atlanta, GA, and Janice Elizabeth (Robbie) Wright of Cartersville, GA, ten grandchildren and sixteen great grandchildren, a brother, Robert Rakestraw of Rome, GA, and sister Sarah Rakestraw Irwin of Gainesville, FL, also survive to cherish William’s memory.

A Celebration of William’s Life will be conducted in the chapel of Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home on Thursday, June 23, 2022 at two o’clock in the afternoon.

The family will receive friends from noon until the service hour at Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

Winkenhofer Pine Ridge Funeral Home is honored to serve this family in the most difficult of times.