William H. Hoy Jr.

William “Bill� Harwood Hoy, Jr., 57, of Bedford lost his decades-long battle with depression, alcoholism and diabetes Thursday, March 13, 2014. He was the husband of Sherry Lu Coker. Bill was born July 24, 1956 in Petersburg a son of the late William H. Hoy, Sr. and the late Cary Jones Hoy. Bill spent his early childhood years growing up in Richmond and graduated from VCU with a BA degree in Mass Communications. As newlyweds, Bill and Sherry moved to Bedford in 1983 where he had his first “real� job as a photographer and reporter with the Bedford Bulletin. Bill was with the Bulletin for about 15 years, spent another 15 as a Public Information Officer with the County of Bedford, before retiring in 2013. He spent much of his year of retirement volunteering. Over the years Bill enjoyed his hobbies of photography, reading, bird watching and cooking. Bill and Sherry loved to travel. They visited many of America’s national parks and enjoyed travel to South America, Italy, China, French Polynesia and the Caribbean. Bill was known for his quirky sense of humor and compassion for others. In addition to Sherry those who mourn his passing include: sister Palmer Johnson, her husband Jim and their daughter Mariah and sister Mary Holton, his parents-in-law Sherry and Luanne Coker, sister-in-law Cindy Martin and her sons William, Spencer and Ross, sister-in-law Lori Short and her children Tyler and Kelsey, brother-in-law Lamar Coker, brother-in-law Robin Coker and his wife Kelly, and numerous other family members and friends. Bill’s kitties, Beau and Pepper already miss curling up in his lap. A memorial service for Bill will be held 12 noon, Saturday, March 22, 2014 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Lynchburg. Memorials may be made in Bill’s memory to the Lynchburg, Amherst County or Bedford Humane Societies or the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation or to a charity of your choice. Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory, Lynchburg (434-237-9424) is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent by visiting: tharpfuneralhome.com.