William Perfater Caldwell age 90 of Roanoke, died Thursday, May 14 at The Glebe Retirement Community in Daleville.
Bill was born in Radford October 13, 1929 and was the son of the late Frank Y. and Pauline Perfater Caldwell.
Bill graduated from VMI with a degree in Chemistry in 1951. He served in the Korean War as a 1st Lt. from 1951 -53 as a Field Artillery Unit Commander with The United States Army where he earned the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Campaign Stars and the United Nations Service Medal. Upon returning to the U.S., Bill worked for Hercules Powder Co. in Radford for two years before enrolling in the MCV School of Pharmacy (class of ’58). Bill was pharmacist-manager-owner of Dublin Pharmacy for 15 years, then joined the VA Medical Center in Salem as a staff pharmacist. He served the people of Southwest Virginia for 36 years before retiring in 1993.
Bill was preceded in death by his oldest son, Bill, Jr., and brothers, Frank and Bob Caldwell. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Joanna Cox Caldwell; his children: Greg (Priscilla), Jodi (Coley) Austin, and Kay (Chad) Spangler; grandchildren: Cole (Caroline) Austin, Will Austin, Ryan Spangler, Ally Spangler, Cary Caldwell and Calvin Caldwell; sister-in-law Polly Caldwell and nephew Jeff (Anna) Caldwell (and family), and others.
Bill loved the outdoors and camping and felt it was quite comfortable compared to living in trenches and bunkers for 11 straight months in Korea. He cherished his wife and children. He was immensely proud of his grandchildren, and loved watching them grow into adulthood. He was a role model for us all and is dearly missed.
Bill will be laid to rest at the Caldwell Cemetery in Radford in a private family ceremony.
Memorial contributions may be made to American Legion Post 3, PO Box 20008, Roanoke, Virginia 24018.
Online condolences may be made to Bill’s family at www.rader-funeralhome.com.
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