William "Bill" Norman Faller

William Norman Faller of Ponchatoula and Baton Rouge, LA, passed away on Saturday, September 14, 2024, surrounded by his loving and devoted family. He was 80 years old. Bill's life began in 1943 in war-torn Germany. At the age of 11, he was adopted from his German orphanage by Marvin and Yvonne Coco Faller of Ponchatoula, Louisiana. Throughout Bill's life, he expressed admiration and gratitude for the couple and their young daughter, Gaye, who accepted the challenge of making a place in their home and their hearts for a child who spoke no English while they spoke no German. That same year he met Charlotte Forrest, the young girl who would become the love of his life. He and Charlotte were married in 1963 when they were both LSU students. 

Bill quickly mastered the English language, absorbed the American culture and made it his own. He always excelled at academics and graduated from LSU with numerous honors and, in 1968, graduated second in his class from LSU Law School. 

After serving 4 years as an Army Captain in the Judge Advocate General's Corps, Bill and his young family returned from Okinawa, Japan to begin his law career in Louisiana.

His practice flourished in both Baton Rouge and Hammond. In 1992, he fulfilled his goal of moving home to the Ponchatoula property that he and his family so dearly loved.

Bill always managed to balance his law practice with ample time to enjoy his family. Summers included long family trips to Europe to spend some time with his German family and to introduce his children to that part of their heritage. Days were spent hiking through the Austrian and Swiss Alps and others were spent exploring Paris, Prague, Vienna, Salzburg, and other great cities of Europe. He loved introducing his children to the monumental cathedrals and wonderful art museums and galleries these cities offered.

In retirement, Bill fell in love with the history of the American West and became an avid collector of late 19th and early and mid-20th century Western art.

It is with great sadness that we mourn the loss of this wonderful, brilliant man who stood at the center of our family for so many years. We are so very proud of his "well-lived" life, and we cherish the many memories we hold in our hearts. 

A service is planned at Christmas to scatter ashes in Ponchatoula at the spot on his lake that his grandchildren call ‘Opa’s Point’. A second service is planned in the spring to scatter ashes at the ruins of Schloss Auerbach in Bensheim, Germany where he played as a young child.

Bill is survived by his wife of 60 years, Charlotte Forrest Faller, his three children, and their spouses, Melysa and Kevin Vaughan, Will and Sarah Faller, and Natasha and Jacques Balette. Bill was 'Opa' to his 9 dearly beloved grandchildren, Will and Emma Vaughan, Jacques Henry, Forrest, and Charlotte Coco Balette, and Grace, Elizabeth, Anna, and Charlie Faller.

Bill is also survived by his sister, Gaye Randolph, his sister-in-law, Cindy Neal, an aunt, Sylvia Coco Casbergue, a niece, Missi Neal Sturdivant, and 2 nephews, Rick Neal and Brad Neal (Laura). 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Yvonne Faller, his father and mother-in-law, Charles and Emma Forrest, and 2 brothers in law, Gayle Neal and Gus Randolph.

Bill is also survived by his German siblings, Gunther, Sonja (Jupp), Rita, Peter (Marianne), Andrea, Natascha, and Claudia. He is preceded in death by his sister, Inge, and his mother Elisabeth.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Harry McKneely & Son Funeral Home and Crematory of Hammond and Ponchatoula. An online guest book is available at www.harrymckneely.com