Mr. Earnest “Bill” Coggins, age 92, of 285 Curtis Brown Road, Tallapoosa, GA, passed away, December 2, 2011. Mr. Coggins was born June 21, 1919 to the late Perry Lee and Della Charles Coggins.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Teresa Coggins; sisters, Opal Coggins Thompson and Neoma Coggins Moore; and brothers, Amos Coggins, Arvin “Cooter” Coggins, and Emel Coggins.

He was a member of Riverside Baptist Church and a distinguished WWII veteran. He was Staff Sergeant of the 45th Division and earned a Purple Heart. Mr. Coggins was a member of the American Border Collie Association where he received numerous Championship awards, a member of the American Legion, a deacon at Riverside Baptist Church, and he retired as a Tallapoosa Barber.

Surviving Mr. Coggins is his wife, Rosa Ann Coggins; daughters, Diana Coggins Keever of Lawrenceville and Virginia Coggins Alphin of Eastvale, CA; son, David Coggins of Tallapoosa; 7 grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren; sister, Aline Coggins Haynes of Monterey Park, CA.

Funeral services will be held Monday, December 5, 2011 at 2:00 PM from Riverside Baptist Church with Revs. Chester Pesnell, Pat Patterson and Steve Galloway officiating. Also, Anita Young, “Little Bit” will be speaking. Music will be provided by Dean Wright and the Riverside choir. Pallbearers serving will be Terry Dobbins, Mark Gober, Ralph Williams, Kenneth Reece, Lloyd Smith, Chuck Smith, and Henry Jaillet. Honorary pallbearer will be Scot “The Dog”.

Interment will follow in Riverside Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Miller Funeral Home on Sunday, December 4 between the hours of 5 and 8.