William E. "Bill" Royster
January 3, 1947 - January 15, 2012

Columbus, GA- William E. "Bill" Royster died Sunday, January 15, 2012 at Vista Care Center at Franciscan Woods.

A graveside funeral service will be held at 1:30 PM, Tuesday, January 17, 2012 in Parkhill Cemetery with Chaplain Steve Croft officiating according to Striffler-Hamby Mortuary, 4071 Macon Road, Columbus, GA, 31907.

Mr. Royster was born January 3rd 1947 at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma to Marie Laier Royster and Woodrow G. Royster, Sr.

Mr. Royster was a retired free-lance journalist and White House Correspondent for UPI, AP and USA Radio in Washington, DC for 30 years. He started his career with WDAK Radio while in the 10th grade at Baker High School in 1963.  He later served with the US Army at Ft. Benning and started the Ft. Benning Report on WRBL TV and later served in April 1965 in The Dominican Republic-Civil War and United States Intervention. He received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal and the National Defense Service Medal. Later he served with the Armed Forces Radio in Korea.

For a short while he returned to Columbus and was the Co-Anchor of the nightly news at WLTZ Channel 38.

Mr. Royster was preceded in death by his mother Marie L. Royster and Father Woodrow G. Royster, Sr.

Surviving to cherish his memory is his brother Woodrow Royster, Jr. Sister-in-Law Brenda Royster, a daughter Mindy R. Pass, Hackettstown, NJ and sons, Drew Royster, Mt. Vernon, NY and Jack Royster, Paris, France, three Grandchildren, Scarlett, Kyle and Connor, 2 nieces and 3 great nieces and one great nephew.

To sign the online guest register, please visit www.shcolumbus.com.