3/1/1944 Bill was inducted into the Army and became a pilot.
1948 He participated in a Memorial Day commemoration of all veteransb y flying an aerial salute over the local cemeteries and dropping awrea th in the lake to honor those buried at sea.
1404 Lafayette, Mattoon, IL
Loxa, IL
Lake Mattoon, IL
From the pen of his sister, Dorisgene:
"(My son) Danny always thought he was Uncle Bill's favorite nephew.One d ay we were planning a drift fishing outing on Bill's float boatand Dan ny's job was to fill the cooler with beer. Man, it was hotand fishing w asn't so good, so what do you do? Drink beer! Billwent to the cooler b ut all he found was that old popular Billy Beer!Bill asked, "Is that a ll you brought?" Danny was shocked, he thoughthe had 'done good!' Wr ong! Bill picked up the cooler and threw itin the lake, then took Dan ny back to shore and never again trustedhim to bring the beer."
He was stricken with a massive heart attack while dining at arestauran t while dining with his wife and family.
Raising a family of policemen, the long funeral procession was led byb oth Illinois Secretary of State Police and Charleston Police cars.At t he cemetery, uniformed police officers stood shoulder toshoulder, form ing walls on either side of the walkway leading to thegrave site.
