William E. Shepherd
William E. Shepherd, 66, of Barbee Lake, Leesburg, Ind., passed away Monday Feb. 18, 2013, in Lutheran Hospital of Fort Wayne, Ind.
William was born on Aug. 3, 1946, to William and Sarah (Collins) Shepherd in Floyd County, Ky. He was a Kosciusko County resident after moving here in 1968. William married Claudia Whitaker on July 3, 1969, in Virginia, and then Barbara Wolfe on May 15, 1999, in Pierceton Ind.
William served his country honorably as a member of the U.S. Army for 36 years retiring as a First Sergeant He served during the Vietnam Conflict, he had received three Bronze Stars, one with a “V” Device for heroism, two Army Commendation Awards, one with a “V” Device, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. William was in the Airborne division, a prior member of the Company D Rangers, and the Indiana National Guard. He was a member of the 38th Infantry Division Association and the 151st Infantry Association.
William was also a lifetime member and past commander of the American Legion in Pierceton and a lifetime member of the VFW of Warsaw, Ind.
William worked at Dalton Foundries for 18 years.
William is survived by his loving wife: Barbara Shepherd, Leesburg; one son: Charles Shepherd, Pierceton; two daughters: Sandra Helblig, South Whitley, Ind.; and Jane Baldridge, Pierceton; two stepdaughters: Deb Baker, Silver Lake, Ind.; and Tona Walter, South Whitley; four sisters: Betty (Terry) Hall, Pierceton; Carolyn (Bill) Rose, Liberty Mills, Ind.; Della Pollock, Silver Lake; and Chris (Frank), Warsaw; three brothers: Charles (Colleen) Shepherd, Pierceton; Danny (Debbie) Shepherd, Wynder, Ga.; and Darwin Shepherd, Sellers Lake, Ind.; and 16 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
William was preceded in death by one son-in-law and a great-granddaughter.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Pierceton. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at the funeral home with Pastor Bud Granger and Pastor Carl Hughes officiating. Burial will be at the Washington Center Cemetery with full military honors by the Indiana National Guard Ceremonial Unit.
The family has asked for memorials to be made out to the William E. Shepherd Funeral Trust, c/o McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel.