Bill McLain

Bill W. McLain, 84, of Cape Girardeau died Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, where he had lived the past five years.

He was born Feb. 11, 1924, in Oriole, Mo., to Monroe and Myrtle M. Coomer McLain. He and Betty J. Massey-Bollinger were married June 3, 1989.

He entered the U.S. Army in June 1943 and was awarded three bronze stars for the campaigns of Rhineland, Central Europe and Aleutian Islands. He was honorably discharged in January 1945 and was a member of VFW Post No. 3838 in Cape Girardeau.

He worked many years as a detail carpenter for Diamond Construction and was a member of Bethany Baptist Church, both in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include his wife of Cape Girardeau; a son, Larry (Rhonda) McLain of Cape Girardeau; two daughters, Linda (David) Bergstrom of Scott City, LaDonna (Roger) Kirn of Cape Girardeau; two stepdaughters, Carol Grass of Farmington, Mo., Marsha (Dennis) Lappe of Friedheim, Mo.; two brothers, Ivan (Betty) McLain and Jack (Jean) McLain, all of Cape Girardeau; three sisters, Mary Wissman of Cape Girardeau, Sue (Norman) Bryant of Brownsville, Texas, Carrie Wilhelm of Scott City; and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by seven brothers and a sister.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at McCombs Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

A committal service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Bloomfield, Mo., with the Rev. Doyle Farris officiating, followed by full military honors. Members of VFW Post 3838 will serve as pallbearers.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to the Missouri Veterans Home. Sympathy messages may be sent to the family online at www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.