Billy Boswell

Billy Gene Boswell, 83, of Cape Girardeau died Wednesday, June 18, 2008, at Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born April 15, 1925, in Cape Girardeau, son of Clyde and Mamie Boswell.

Boswell graduated from Central High School in 1942 and attended Southeast Missouri State University.

He served as an airplane and engine mechanic with the U.S. Air Force in Guam. He received the distinguished unit badge with one Bronze Cluster, American Theater Ribbon with Bronze Stars, Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and an overseas bar.

Boswell worked for Midwest Dairy and Potashnick, retiring as a truck driver from FlexoLite in St. Louis.

Bill was an honorary bridge builder member of the Old Appleton Bridge in 1983. He also was director of Cape River Heritage Museum in 1987. He was an avid stamp collector and also collected advertising bottles.

He and Margaret Snider were married in 1944. She died in May 1991.

He has two children, Gretchen (Ronald) Thurlkill and Russell (Lisa) Boswell; two grandchildren, Tabitha (Reginald) Jennings and Joshua Boswell; two great-grandchildren, Criston and Tashun Jennings; three brothers, Jerry, Dean and Clyde Boswell; and a sister, Dorothy Richardson.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother.

Boswell later married Tillie Schnurbusch Campbell on May 28, 1992. They have enjoyed traveling and dancing. They were members of Moonlight Ballroom Dance Society of Carbondale, Ill.

He was a member of Eagles Aerie and VFW. He attended St. Vincent de Paul Church with his wife Tillie.

Friends may call from 9 a.m. to service time Saturday at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. David Hulshof officiating. Burial will follow in Hobbs Chapel Cemetery. Full military honors will be provided by Missouri Honors Team.

Memorials may be made to VFW or Hobbs Chapel in Cape Girardeau, or an organization of your choice.