William Henry Couch

William Henry Couch, Sr., age 99, died peacefully in his sleep Saturday March 7, 2020 at the Oaks at Towne Lake assisted living center, 10 days short of his 100th birthday. Mr. Couch is preceded in death by his wife, Joan Schrampfer, sister Janie, and brothers Cecil and Herschel. He is survived by his son, William Jr., daughter, Kathleen Lamar, and daughter-in-law Pamela. He leaves behind six grandchildren, Megan, Hannah, and Joshua Couch and Julian, Kiana, and Isabelle Lamar, one great-grandson, Tristan Lamar, and many loving members of the Schrampfer family. Mr. Couch was born in Senoia, Georgia, and volunteered for the Army Air Corps shortly after Pearl Harbor was attacked. He was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group as a bombardier in a B-17. After months of training, including some very dangerous close calls in training flights, his unit flew across the Atlantic to England in order to begin bombing operations against Nazi Germany. Mr. Couch and his crew were shot down on the 17 August 1943 mission to Regensburg, Germany, and he spent the remainder of the war as a POW in a German Stalag. He is also a survivor of the 1945 POW winter march. He was liberated on April 29th, 1945 by advance elements of Patton's 3rd Army from Stalag VII-A in Moosberg Germany, where 120,000 POWs were being held in a camp designed for 14,000. After the war, Mr. Couch served in the occupation forces in Germany, followed by a long career with and retirement from Southern Railroad. Services to honor the life of Mr. Willian Henry Couch Sr. will be Friday March 13, 2020 at 11:00 A.M. from the chapel of Poole Funeral Home with military honors provided by the United States Army. Visitation will be Thursday March 12, 2020 from 5:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Inurnment will take place at the Georgia National Cemetery Friday May 1, 2020 at 10:30 AM. In lieu of flowers please make memorial contributions to the Cherokee County Homeless Veterans Program, make checks payable to: CCHVP and mail to: 160 McClure Street Canton Ga 30114Visitation MAR 12. 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM (EDT) Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services1970 Eagle DriveWoodstock, GA 30189Funeral Service MAR 13. 11:00 AM (EDT) Poole Funeral Home & Cremation Services1970 Eagle DriveWoodstock, GA 30189