William E. Bratton of Monarch Beach, California and formerly of Salado, passed away Jan. 6, 2008.

Funeral service will be held 2 p.m. Jan. 12 in Church of the Angels in Monarch Beach. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles California.

Bratton was born October 25, 1919 in Dallas.

Bratton was the long-time owner of the Stagecoach Inn hotel and restaurant here in Salado, inheriting the business from its founders Dion and Ruth Van Bibber. He later sold the business to Morris Foster to retire from business.

He also worked for 40 years with General Dynamics after serving in the U.S. Navy.

He and his wife Betty Dale Bratton lived in Monarch Beach for 35 years.

He is survived by his wife and by three daughters: Donna Bratton-Kearns, Janet Gravette of Salado and Dale Schumacher.