William H. “Bill” Potterton, Jr., 88, of Punta Gorda Florida, passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2017, sailing away peacefully in his sleep.
Bill was born August 22, 1929, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, graduated from Germantown High School, and was a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics from Wharton. Bill was a reserve Army officer for 17 years achieving the rank of Captain in the Corp of Engineers. He was President of Greentowne Financial Corporation, a real estate investment company, and taught real estate courses at Penn State.
Bill loved scouting and achieved his Eagle Scout badge at the age of 15. He has always had a phenomenal love of the sea. He was a life guard at Ocean City, New Jersey as a teenager. He always owned a sailboat, and loved sailing the Chesapeake to the Gulf of Mexico, with numerous trips to the Bahamas with friends from the Punta Gorda Boat Club. When he wasn’t sailing, he was frequently found at the Punta Gorda Y. He loved the beach, scuba diving and the year round sunshine of Florida.
Bill is survived by his loving wife Carolyn, and 6 children, Bill (Terry) Potterton III, Bob (Mona) Potterton, Joe Potterton, Scott (Sandy) Ferguson, Lori Phillips, Kathy (Peter) Snelling, and 13 grandchildren, Ken, Daniel, Ryan, Hannah, Lexi, Lindsay, Brett, Shay, Kendall, Josh, Emma, Alex and Julie. Also surviving are a brother, Torr (Ann) Potterton, sister, Jean O’Malley, and many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his father William H. Potterton, mother Eleanor and the mother of his 3 sons, Nance.
A memorial service celebrating Bill’s life will be held 1:00pm – 4:00pm, Saturday, Sept. 23, 2017, at the Faith Lutheran Church, 4005 Palm Drive Punta Gorda, FL.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Bill’s name to Tidewell Hospice, Philanthropy Department, 5955 Rand Blvd, Sarasota, FL 34238, the Southwest Florida Council Boy Scouts of America, 1801 Boy Scout Drive, Fort Myers, FL 33907, or the Punta Gorda Boat Club, 802 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda, FL 33950.
Friends may visit online at www.robersonfh.com to extend condolences to the family. Arrangements by Roberson Funeral Homes & Crematory Punta Gorda Chapel.