William Lee Potts

Dedication to God, family and country epitomized the life of William L (Bill) Potts. He was an honorable, courageous, honest, hardworking man whose pursuit of excellence was his guiding force. He loved flying, fishing, water skiing, traveling, popcorn, licorice, pancakes, lemon drops, and most of all his family. His life was filled with amazing and extraordinary opportunities.

The first grandchild of the Potts family and native Oklahoman, Bill’s foundational years were spent at Fort Reno, Oklahoma. Some of his earliest memories were of playing at the Fort, and of riding to school in the back of a fabric-covered, six-ton truck. After moving to Oklahoma City with his parents, Bill filled his early years by riding his bike to throw papers for the Daily Oklahoman. His was the worst route in the worst neighborhood and it was given to him by his dad who was also his boss. That route laid the groundwork for his life, and taught him the invaluable lessons of hard work, perseverance, determination and ethics. Other jobs included working at a movie theater where his love of popcorn blossomed, working as a cook at a drive-in movie theatre, being a soda jerk, and working at the same flour mill that most of his extended family worked at in previous years. Hard working self-reliance was always a mainstay in his life.

Oklahoma awarded 6 paper boys scholarships to college…Bill was one of those boys. The $400 scholarship afforded him the ability to attend Oklahoma A&M (OSU) for an entire year. During his time in college, he elected to join the advanced ROTC, was part of the glee club, and a member of Kappa Kappa Psi. During his last two years in college, he was the drum major for the Okla. A&M band and was known for being able to bend backwards and touch his shako (drum major’s hat) to the ground behind him while strutting.

He met Lila Jean Weeks on a blind date during his senior year in college. When he got home from the date, he awakened his mother to tell her he had met the gal he was going to marry…and he did. Lila Jean’s love for him was not quite as instant, but it was forever. While in basic training at Fort Benning, Ga., after a visit from Lila Jean, and after sending her home to Oklahoma on a bus, Bill realized he wanted to marry her. So, he proposed…over the phone! Not super romantic, but… she said yes, and they spent 68 years in joyful marriage. Life took the couple on quite a ride through their military career. A career that took them around the globe, and afforded two poor kids from Oklahoma an opportunity to see, have, and experience an extraordinary life.

Creating a family looked a little different for Bill. After eight years of marriage he and Lila Jean adopted their son Steven in Tennessee and two years later, in Bogota Colombia, Laura was chosen as the newest addition to the Potts family. Shortly thereafter, Kathleen joined the ranks, in the conventional way, and thus their family was complete.

In addition to creating a family, Bill was becoming a true American hero. As a US Army officer, Bill had quite the career. He began as an infantry man who stood the DMZ in Korea while surviving the -35º temperatures. He became a senior paratrooper, but one day, after a jump, he looked up at the plane and thought, “Those guys are going to land that plane and head right to the officers club for a drink! I have to walk ALL the way back before I get to the O-Club. I’m going to flight school!” So he did.

If it could fly…Bill could fly it. He learned to fly in a fabric covered airplane, flew helicopters in combat, and one hour in a jet. He was one of only 37 instrument instructors for the Army who tested pilots to fly solely using their instruments. He earned his master aviator wings and senior parachute wings, attended Command and General Staff College, and was an NRA marksman. Throughout his military career he was awarded the following medals: 2 Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross, 2 Bronze Stars, Purple Heart, 2 Meritorious Service Medals, 20 Air Medals, 2 Army Commendation Medals (with Valor), 2 National Defense Service Medals, Korean Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal (6 campaigns), RVN Gallantry Cross (with palm), Vietnam Campaign Medal, UN Korean Service medal, Colombian Air Force Pilot medal with one star.

After retirement, Bill became an entrepreneur. He and Lila Jean opened and successfully ran four liquor stores called The Bottle Shop. He also became the #1 Drum Major in the nation for the Shriner’s Drum and Bugle Corp. He flew with the Flying Fez aviators unit to get sick and burned children wherever they needed to go in the United States for treatment at the Shriner’s Hospitals. He became a professor at St Phillip’s University teaching the culinary arts. He and Lila Jean renovated their house and he single handedly laid all of the wood floors. He built things, painted things, and fixed things. He took care of his friends when they needed help, was the first to volunteer at church, and fixed all the things his grown kids broke on their houses whenever they’d say “uh, Dad… see, this is what happened!”. His honey-do list was long, but he was always ready to tackle any job.

Living life in community was the cornerstone of Bill and Lila Jean’s life. They were a fun, enthusiastic, and adventurous couple. Together they were foundational in starting multiple aviation social clubs who met for annual reunions around the U.S. They square danced, water skied, and RV’d to 44 out of 50 states. Never one to miss a party, Bill could always be counted on to cook something, stir something, play something, count the money for something, or lead something. He was never the life of the party, that was left to the love of his life Lila Jean. He was the always steady “Just get it done!” kind of guy.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 68 years and parents. He is survived by his son Steven Potts (Kari), daughter Laura Koester (David), daughter Kathleen Griffith (Kirk), grandsons Braiden and Colten Koester, and granddaughter Lila Griffith.

Bill absolutely loved to fly in the clouds. It was his favorite place to be. He said he found it incredibly peaceful. With his daughter by his side, Bill slipped his mortal coil on January 26, 2026. He was surrounded by the love of his family who will miss him more than we can imagine. He was welcomed into eternity, by his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ whom he gave his life to at an early age (and was baptized at age 82), by his wife Lila Jean whom he missed so very much, and by the rest of his family.

Don’t you know he is loving Heaven right now flying everywhere he goes!

In lieu of flowers, it was Bill’s wish that any donations be made to one or more of the following: Shriner’s Children’s Hospital, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or The Red Cross.