William E Oatts

William Earl Oatts, affectionately known as “Poo Poo”, was born on September 28, 1949, in Soperton, Georgia to Ella Mae Oatts and Sam Walker Sr.  He departed this life on Wednesday, April 24, 2019 at the Northern Indiana Healthcare Veterans  Hospital in Fort Wayne.

He graduated from Truetlen County Training School and was later drafted to the U. S. Army where he served during the Vietnam War.  After receiving his honorable discharge, he moved to Fort Wayne.  He was united in holy matrimony to Cheryl Jackson. 

William was employed by General Motors Aircraft Division of General Electric (now BAE Systems) until his retirement.  He as a member of Pilgrim Baptist Church where he served on the Usher Board.

He was an excellent gardener and loved to work in his yard.  People from all over the city would come and admire his flowers and plants.  William also enjoyed fishing, hunting and watching Nascar racing and his beloved Dallas Cowboys football team.  Most importantly, he had an appreciation for photography where he took pictures of every special occasion and hung them up around his house.  He took pride in entertaining company and having them to find their picture on his “Wall of Fame”.

Left to cherish his memory are his beloved wife of over 40 years, Cheryl Oatts; children, Lennis Harris of Akin, SC, Michael Jackson, Alanna (Ty) Ford and Chad (Teri) Oatts all of Fort Wayne; nine grandchildren, Darrell, Amarion, Kaila, Amiah, Kyla, Marcus, Anisha, Arman and Arianna; three great grandchildren; brothers, James Oatts of Soperton, GA, Benjamin (Phyllis) Walker, Matthew (Helen) Walker both of Atlanta, GA, David (Willie Mae) Walker of Millen, GA and Ricky (Evelyn) Walker of Dublin, GA; sisters, Laverne Foster of Bay Shore, NY, Ruby Snipes of Largo, FL, Lonnie Bell Walker of St. Petersburg, FL, Annie Mae Troup of Atlanta, GA,  Carrie(Willis) Lee of Fort Valley, GA, Brenda Richards and Kathy Walker both of Soperton, GA; best friend for over 60 years, Asberry Moore and host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Ella Mae Oatts; father, Sam Walker Sr.; sisters, Mary Oatts-Morman and Sarah Bell; brothers, Jimmy Hudson and Sam Walker Jr. and grandson, Aadan Ford.

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