William "Bill" H. Potts

Bill graduated from Cathedral High School in 1947 where he was an exceptional baseball pitcher, a "southpaw". He continued his baseball career with the St. Clair County League and the East St. Louis Muny league where he became legendary and was courted by the St. Louis Browns among other professional teams. He married his wife, Betty "Jo" Wilson on Feb 15, 1949 and spent many years providing for his family of six children as an Underground Cable splicer for Union Electric in St. Louis from which he retired.

Bill was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville; Swansea Moose Lodge 1221, where he was a dedicated bingo worker; and was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 1439. Bill was also very much involved in the Black Knights Drum and Bugle Corps. He was a skilled woodworker claiming several prizes for his famed birdhouses and enjoyed repairing lawn mowers. He was an avid gardener with his lifelong friend, Ance Cermak and a master jigsaw puzzler with his family, always having a puzzle in progress. He was always willing to help a neighbor no matter what the task. He took great delight in playing jokes on his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty “Jo” Potts, nee Wilson, a daughter Penny Elizabeth Potts, and his parents, Daniel and Elizabeth, nee Hagene, Potts.

Surviving are his six children, Pam (Bill) Potts-Hustedde of Belleville,Illinois, Rick (Mary) Potts of Columbia, Illinois, Mary (Ted) Taylor of Belleville, Illinois, Terry Potts of Belleville, Illinois, William H. (Lisa) Potts II of Dacono, Colorado, and Joyce (Bob) Herrington of Fairview Heights, Illinois, 12 grandchildren, Jessi and Marcus Hustedde, Luke and Nick Potts, Rod and Tiffany Taylor, Kelly (Jason) Donjon, Gus (Vicki) Feldker, Brad and Joey Potts, and Kevin and Rory Herrington, five great grandchildren, Kaila and Rodney Taylor, Austin and Andy Donjon, and Gus Feldker as well as a great grandchild soon to be born, three sisters, Mary Ellen (Ralph) Thomas, Patricia (Bill Wanglin) Potts, and Betty June (Patrick) Simmons, loyal and dear friends Ance and Sally Cermak who made life bearable after the passing of his dear wife, and many other dear and loving friends

The Family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the following for their dedication and loving care: St. Paul's Home staff, who made the last weeks of dad's life happy and pleasant for all; Hideg Pharmacy for their lifelong exceptional service and care and many faithful friends.

Memorials are appreciated to Blessed Sacrament School or The American Cancer Society. Condolences may be made at www.vallhallagardensandfuneralhome.com

Visitation: Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, September 10, 2010 at Valhalla Gaerdner Holten Funeral Home, Belleville, Illinois.

Funeral: Funeral procession will leave at 9:40 A.M. Saturday, September 11, 2010 for a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00 a.m. at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, Belleville, Illinois with Fr. Clyde Grogan officiating. Interment will be in Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Illinois.