WIXTED, WILLIAM C.
Of Cherry Hill, NJ, age 87, died Thursday October 4, 2007, after a short illness. Beloved husband of Mary P. Wixted (nee Hendrickson). Survived by 8 children: William M. Wixted (Jeannette, deceased), of Linwood, NJ, Dennis G. Wixted (Diane), of Erial, NJ, Mary Anne Wixted Weyer (Richard), of Tucson, AZ, James B. Wixted of Houston, TX, John G. Wixted (Patricia), of Medford NJ, David J. Wixted of Cherry Hill, NJ, Gerald D. Wixted (Patricia) of Moorestown, NJ, and Frances Wixted Hall (Alan) of Scottsdale, AZ. Also survived by 25 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Bill was born in Philadelphia on August 25, 1920, the oldest boy and the third of ten children born to William M. Wixted and Josepha F. (Fox) Wixted. He graduated from Northeast High in 1938 and entered LaSalle College in Philadelphia in September 1941, majoring in chemistry. He left college to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 as a top turret gunner of a B-24 Liberator (the 'Crippled Bitch') in the 786th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Attlebridge, Norfolk, England. Bill flew on 24 bombing missions in April-June 1944 and participated in several of the largest air battles of World War II over Berlin and other German cities. On June 25, 1944, on his 25th mission he was shot down, captured and was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft IV in Poland. On February 6, 1945, Bill and 8500 other Allied POW's were forced to march from the camp, traveling 600 miles on foot in 86 days, with little food or shelter. This was documented in a book 'The Shoe Leather Express.' On May 2, 1945, Bill and several comrades were liberated by the British Army at Zarrentin in northwest Germany. He received many medals and commendations, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Normandy Campaign Medal.
Bill married Mary P. Hendrickson ('Hennie') of Philadelphia, a member of the Women's Army Corps, on February 2, 1946. He resumed his studies at LaSalle and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He worked for Rohm & Haas Company in the laboratory, sales and executive offices until his retirement in 1984. In July 1956 he moved his family to Kingston Estates in Cherry Hill, where he lived in the same house until his death. He was a parishioner and daily communicant at St. Peter Celestine Church from its inception. Along with his wife, he was an avid swimmer and was a charter member of the Kingston Estates Swim Club and the Jersey Wahoos Swim Club. After his retirement he became active in a number of organizations, including the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 466th Bomb Group Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also active in numerous charities, and eagerly doted upon the scholastic and athletic achievements of his children and grandchildren, all of whom cherish and honor his memory, as do his many friends and his beloved wife of 61 years.
A viewing will be held at St. Peter Celestine Church, Kings Highway, Cherry Hill from 7-9PM on Monday, October 8. On Tuesday, October 9, a viewing will be held from 9-10AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory can be sent to Food For The Poor, Inc., 6401 Lyons Road, Dept. 9662, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, www.foodforthepoor.org. Arrangements by SCHETTER FUNERAL HOME, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Of Cherry Hill, NJ, age 87, died Thursday October 4, 2007, after a short illness. Beloved husband of Mary P. Wixted (nee Hendrickson). Survived by 8 children: William M. Wixted (Jeannette, deceased), of Linwood, NJ, Dennis G. Wixted (Diane), of Erial, NJ, Mary Anne Wixted Weyer (Richard), of Tucson, AZ, James B. Wixted of Houston, TX, John G. Wixted (Patricia), of Medford NJ, David J. Wixted of Cherry Hill, NJ, Gerald D. Wixted (Patricia) of Moorestown, NJ, and Frances Wixted Hall (Alan) of Scottsdale, AZ. Also survived by 25 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Bill was born in Philadelphia on August 25, 1920, the oldest boy and the third of ten children born to William M. Wixted and Josepha F. (Fox) Wixted. He graduated from Northeast High in 1938 and entered LaSalle College in Philadelphia in September 1941, majoring in chemistry. He left college to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 as a top turret gunner of a B-24 Liberator (the 'Crippled Bitch') in the 786th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Attlebridge, Norfolk, England. Bill flew on 24 bombing missions in April-June 1944 and participated in several of the largest air battles of World War II over Berlin and other German cities. On June 25, 1944, on his 25th mission he was shot down, captured and was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft IV in Poland. On February 6, 1945, Bill and 8500 other Allied POW's were forced to march from the camp, traveling 600 miles on foot in 86 days, with little food or shelter. This was documented in a book 'The Shoe Leather Express.' On May 2, 1945, Bill and several comrades were liberated by the British Army at Zarrentin in northwest Germany. He received many medals and commendations, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Normandy Campaign Medal.
Bill married Mary P. Hendrickson ('Hennie') of Philadelphia, a member of the Women's Army Corps, on February 2, 1946. He resumed his studies at LaSalle and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He worked for Rohm & Haas Company in the laboratory, sales and executive offices until his retirement in 1984. In July 1956 he moved his family to Kingston Estates in Cherry Hill, where he lived in the same house until his death. He was a parishioner and daily communicant at St. Peter Celestine Church from its inception. Along with his wife, he was an avid swimmer and was a charter member of the Kingston Estates Swim Club and the Jersey Wahoos Swim Club. After his retirement he became active in a number of organizations, including the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 466th Bomb Group Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also active in numerous charities, and eagerly doted upon the scholastic and athletic achievements of his children and grandchildren, all of whom cherish and honor his memory, as do his many friends and his beloved wife of 61 years.
A viewing will be held at St. Peter Celestine Church, Kings Highway, Cherry Hill from 7-9PM on Monday, October 8. On Tuesday, October 9, a viewing will be held from 9-10AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory can be sent to Food For The Poor, Inc., 6401 Lyons Road, Dept. 9662, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, www.foodforthepoor.org. Arrangements by SCHETTER FUNERAL HOME, Cherry Hill, NJ.
WIXTED, WILLIAM C.
Of Cherry Hill, NJ, age 87, died Thursday October 4, 2007, after a short illness. Beloved husband of Mary P. Wixted (nee Hendrickson). Survived by 8 children: William M. Wixted (Jeannette, deceased), of Linwood, NJ, Dennis G. Wixted (Diane), of Erial, NJ, Mary Anne Wixted Weyer (Richard), of Tucson, AZ, James B. Wixted of Houston, TX, John G. Wixted (Patricia), of Medford NJ, David J. Wixted of Cherry Hill, NJ, Gerald D. Wixted (Patricia) of Moorestown, NJ, and Frances Wixted Hall (Alan) of Scottsdale, AZ. Also survived by 25 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Bill was born in Philadelphia on August 25, 1920, the oldest boy and the third of ten children born to William M. Wixted and Josepha F. (Fox) Wixted. He graduated from Northeast High in 1938 and entered LaSalle College in Philadelphia in September 1941, majoring in chemistry. He left college to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 as a top turret gunner of a B-24 Liberator (the 'Crippled Bitch') in the 786th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Attlebridge, Norfolk, England. Bill flew on 24 bombing missions in April-June 1944 and participated in several of the largest air battles of World War II over Berlin and other German cities. On June 25, 1944, on his 25th mission he was shot down, captured and was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft IV in Poland. On February 6, 1945, Bill and 8500 other Allied POW's were forced to march from the camp, traveling 600 miles on foot in 86 days, with little food or shelter. This was documented in a book 'The Shoe Leather Express.' On May 2, 1945, Bill and several comrades were liberated by the British Army at Zarrentin in northwest Germany. He received many medals and commendations, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Normandy Campaign Medal.
Bill married Mary P. Hendrickson ('Hennie') of Philadelphia, a member of the Women's Army Corps, on February 2, 1946. He resumed his studies at LaSalle and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He worked for Rohm & Haas Company in the laboratory, sales and executive offices until his retirement in 1984. In July 1956 he moved his family to Kingston Estates in Cherry Hill, where he lived in the same house until his death. He was a parishioner and daily communicant at St. Peter Celestine Church from its inception. Along with his wife, he was an avid swimmer and was a charter member of the Kingston Estates Swim Club and the Jersey Wahoos Swim Club. After his retirement he became active in a number of organizations, including the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 466th Bomb Group Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also active in numerous charities, and eagerly doted upon the scholastic and athletic achievements of his children and grandchildren, all of whom cherish and honor his memory, as do his many friends and his beloved wife of 61 years.
A viewing will be held at St. Peter Celestine Church, Kings Highway, Cherry Hill from 7-9PM on Monday, October 8. On Tuesday, October 9, a viewing will be held from 9-10AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory can be sent to Food For The Poor, Inc., 6401 Lyons Road, Dept. 9662, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, www.foodforthepoor.org. Arrangements by SCHETTER FUNERAL HOME, Cherry Hill, NJ.
Of Cherry Hill, NJ, age 87, died Thursday October 4, 2007, after a short illness. Beloved husband of Mary P. Wixted (nee Hendrickson). Survived by 8 children: William M. Wixted (Jeannette, deceased), of Linwood, NJ, Dennis G. Wixted (Diane), of Erial, NJ, Mary Anne Wixted Weyer (Richard), of Tucson, AZ, James B. Wixted of Houston, TX, John G. Wixted (Patricia), of Medford NJ, David J. Wixted of Cherry Hill, NJ, Gerald D. Wixted (Patricia) of Moorestown, NJ, and Frances Wixted Hall (Alan) of Scottsdale, AZ. Also survived by 25 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Bill was born in Philadelphia on August 25, 1920, the oldest boy and the third of ten children born to William M. Wixted and Josepha F. (Fox) Wixted. He graduated from Northeast High in 1938 and entered LaSalle College in Philadelphia in September 1941, majoring in chemistry. He left college to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945 as a top turret gunner of a B-24 Liberator (the 'Crippled Bitch') in the 786th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Attlebridge, Norfolk, England. Bill flew on 24 bombing missions in April-June 1944 and participated in several of the largest air battles of World War II over Berlin and other German cities. On June 25, 1944, on his 25th mission he was shot down, captured and was a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft IV in Poland. On February 6, 1945, Bill and 8500 other Allied POW's were forced to march from the camp, traveling 600 miles on foot in 86 days, with little food or shelter. This was documented in a book 'The Shoe Leather Express.' On May 2, 1945, Bill and several comrades were liberated by the British Army at Zarrentin in northwest Germany. He received many medals and commendations, including the Air Medal with four oak clusters, the Purple Heart, the Prisoner of War Medal, and the Normandy Campaign Medal.
Bill married Mary P. Hendrickson ('Hennie') of Philadelphia, a member of the Women's Army Corps, on February 2, 1946. He resumed his studies at LaSalle and graduated in 1948 with a B.S. in Chemistry. He worked for Rohm & Haas Company in the laboratory, sales and executive offices until his retirement in 1984. In July 1956 he moved his family to Kingston Estates in Cherry Hill, where he lived in the same house until his death. He was a parishioner and daily communicant at St. Peter Celestine Church from its inception. Along with his wife, he was an avid swimmer and was a charter member of the Kingston Estates Swim Club and the Jersey Wahoos Swim Club. After his retirement he became active in a number of organizations, including the American Ex-Prisoners of War, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Disabled American Veterans, the Eighth Air Force Historical Society and the 466th Bomb Group Association and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was also active in numerous charities, and eagerly doted upon the scholastic and athletic achievements of his children and grandchildren, all of whom cherish and honor his memory, as do his many friends and his beloved wife of 61 years.
A viewing will be held at St. Peter Celestine Church, Kings Highway, Cherry Hill from 7-9PM on Monday, October 8. On Tuesday, October 9, a viewing will be held from 9-10AM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30AM. In lieu of flowers, donations in Bill's memory can be sent to Food For The Poor, Inc., 6401 Lyons Road, Dept. 9662, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, www.foodforthepoor.org. Arrangements by SCHETTER FUNERAL HOME, Cherry Hill, NJ.
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SSGT US ARMY AIR FORCES; POW 3010 Stalagluft 4; Purple Heart AI
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