W.C. (Bill) Stewart, 84

W.C. (Bill) Stewart, 84 of Mountain Home, died Wednesday July 20, 2005 at a local care center with his family by his side.

Funeral service was held Monday July 25, at the Mountain Home Elks Lodge followed by burial at Mountain View Cemetery with full Military Honors provided by American Legion Post 26, Mountain Home.

Bill was born Jan. 16, 1921, in Brownwood, Texas the son of Thomas W. Stewart and Winnie L. Cannon both of Texas. Bill was schooled in Brownwood. In 1941 Bill married Pearl Jenkins of Texas and from that marriage they had a son Frederick. They were later divorced.

Bill was wounded in WWII while serving in the First Marine Division on Guadalcanal. After his service related injuries they sent Bill to California where he received a medical discharge in 1944.

While in California Bill met Donna L. Smead and they were married on March 31, 1945, in Las Vegas, Nev. From that marriage they had Ronnie and Judy.

Ronnie, their son, was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base. While visiting Ronnie, Bill and Donna made the decision to move to Mountain Home to be closer to their son. Bill then starting working for the United States Postal Service, and later retired in 1972.

Bill and Donna spent 60 years together and still held hands until his death.

Bill was a member of the American Legion, DAV, Mountain Home Elks and Marine Corps League.

"Bill had a quick wit and loved to tease or sometimes tell a joke but always had a smile on his face," his family said. "Bill maybe gone but will not be forgotten by those lives he touched over the years in our community."

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Mountain Home; two sons, Thomas F. and his wife Donna of Waco, Texas, Ronald D. and his wife Barbara of Mountain Home; and one sister Lorraine Galloway of Oklahoma City, Okla., eight grandchildren, and sixteen great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by both parents, two brothers, one sisters, and one daughter, Judy.

Memorial contribution can be made to the Cancer Center of Idaho, 9357 West Emerald St., Boise, ID 83704.

Arrangements were under the direction of Rost Funeral Home.