Joseph William “Bill” Stanton Sr.

Joseph William “Bill” Stanton Sr., 75, of Lake Charles died on Tuesday, May 20, 2014, in a Lubbock, Texas, hospital following a sudden illness.

Bill was a native of Crowley and longtime resident of Lake Charles. Following high school, Bill honorably and dutifully served our country in the United States Marine Corps and the National Guard. He later graduated USL and followed a career in rice farming. He was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles, having sung in the choir and as a member of the Builder’s class.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Albert Edgar and Averil Wynn Stanton; and his sister, Sallie Stanton Crawford.

He leaves to honor and cherish his memory his beloved wife, Wanda Lewis Stanton; son, Joseph William Stanton Jr.; daughters, Sarah Stanton Oubre, Lisa Hodges Caldwell and Colleen H. Hodges; brothers, Wynn Garrison Stanton and Albert Edgar Stanton Jr.; and seven grandchildren.

Visitation will be at the First United Methodist Church, 812 Kirkman St., Lake Charles, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 27. Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Weldon Bares and Rev. Craig Davis officiating. Burial, with military honors, will follow funeral services at Orange Grove Cemetery, Lake Charles, all under the direction of Johnson Funeral Home.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the First United Methodist church or Wesley Foundation.

Words of comfort to the family may be expressed at www.johnsonfuneralhome.net.