William Poole, 82, a resident of Panama City, Fla., and former resident of Greenville, Ala., died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018. The funeral service will be Saturday, Feb. 10, 2018 at 11 a.m. from the chapel of Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home with Brother Clifton Black officiating and Dunklin & Daniels Funeral Home directing. Burial will follow at Magnolia Cemetery. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m.

He was born Nov. 5, 1935, in Greenville, Alabama to Rufus Elisha Poole and Jennie Vieve Crenshaw Poole.

He attended Greenville High School where he served as Senior Class President and Auburn University where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity.  He returned home to Greenville, Alabama where he joined the Poole family farming business and married the love of his life, Eloise Black. In 1981, he and “Elo” relocated to Panama City Beach, Florida where they founded Billy’s Oyster Bar and Billy’s II.

“Poppa”, as he was affectionally known to his family, was a man of honesty, integrity, intelligence and compassion. He embodied the impeccable manners of a true southern gentleman.   He often created nicknames for family and friends of which in turn generated good natured laughs and fun.  Poppa instilled in his children a love of history, science, animals and especially to treat others with respect and dignity. He was loved and revered by us all.

Billy was preceded in death by his father, Rufus Elisha Poole, his mother Jennie Vieve Crenshaw Poole, his brother  Rufus Edward Poole, his son Marcus Clifton Poole and his grandson Cory Clifton Poole.   He is survived by his wife, Mary Eloise Poole; three children, Robert Ernest Poole (Malia), Mary Elizabeth Wheeler  and Prudence Poole Anderson (Lavoy); his grandchildren: Blake Marcus Poole, Megan Brianna Poole-Greer (Alexander) Brandi Alicia Ingram, Stephanie Louise Mason ,William Dylan Mason, Annie Laura Gray, Elizabeth Leanne Gray, Mary Katie Wheeler , Mary Claire Higginbotham and Chase Robert Higginbotham.   

For online condolences, please visit www.dunklinanddanielsfh.com