William E. Shepherd

William E. Shepherd, age 66, passed away at the Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN on Monday February 18th, 2013. William was born on August 3, 1946 to William and Sarah (Collins) Shepherd in Floyd County Kentucky. He was a Kosciusko County resident after moving here in 1968. William married Claudia Whitaker on July 3rd, 1969 in Virginia and then Barbara Wolfe on May 15, 1999 in Pierceton IN. William served his country honorably as a member of the US Army for thirty six years retiring as a First Sargent. 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, 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, Pierceton IN and a lifetime member of the VFW of Warsaw, IN. William worked at Dalton Foundries for eighteen years. William is survived by his loving wife Barbara Shepherd, Leesburg; one son, Charles Shepherd, Pierceton, In; two daughters, Sandra Helblig, South Whitley IN, and Jane Baldridge, Pierceton, IN; two step-daughters, Deb Baker, Silver lake, IN, and Tona Walter, South Whitley, IN. William also has four sisters, Betty (spouse Terry) Hall, Pierceton, IN, Carolyn (spouse Bill) Rose, Liberty Mills, IN, Della Pollock, Silver Lake, IN, and Chris (spouse Frank) Hyden of Warsaw, IN. Three brothers Charles (spouse Colleen) Shepherd, Pierceton, IN, Danny (spouse Debbie) Shepherd, Wynder, GA, and Darwin Shepherd, Sellers Lake, IN. William also has sixteen grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren. William was preceded in death by his parents, one son-in-law and a great granddaughter. Funeral services for William will be at 2:00 pm Friday, February 22nd, 2013 at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Pierceton with with Pastor Bud Granger and Pastor Carl Hughes officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday February 21st, 2013 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm and 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel in Pierceton. Burial will be at the Washington Union Cemetery, Pierceton with full military honors by the Indiana National Guard Ceremonial Unit. Family has asked for memorials to be made out to the William E. Shepherd Funeral Trust c/o McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel