CHARLES LEGRAND

BENTON, Mo. -- Retired Lt. Col. Charles E. LeGrand, 78, of O'Fallon, Ill., died Monday, July 2, 2001, at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Belleville, Ill.

He was born Jan. 6, 1923, at Benton, son of William and Mary Diebold LeGrand. He married the former Mildred Urhahn.

LeGrand served 23 years in the U.S. Air Force. He was a P-47 fighter pilot with 52 missions over Europe during World War II. He also served during the Korean and Vietnam wars, and with the Strategic Air Command as a B-47 and B-52 instructor pilot. He received the Air Force Flying Cross.

He had been a field representative with Knights of Columbus Insurance, and had been an appraiser with St. Clair County.

LeGrand was a member and past grand knight of Knights of Columbus 4239, 4th Degree member of Knights of Columbus C. Pope John Paul Assembly, American Legion Post 137, Senior Citizens, all in O' Fallon; and member of Retired Officers Association and P-47 Thunderbolts Pilots Association.

Survivors include a son, Dr. Daniel LeGrand of Carmel, Ind.; four daughters, Charlene McCracken, Mildred Erb and Harriet Mosley of O'Fallon, Kathleen Rambeau of Carbondale, Ill.; two sisters, Lynda Myers of Redondo Beach, Calif., Sister Rosabel LeGrand of Joliet, Ill.; two brothers, Alban LeGrand of Carlyle, Ill., Francis LeGrand of Florissant, Mo.; and 11 grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, four brothers, and a sister.

Friends may call at Wolfersberger Funeral Home in O'Fallon from 4-8 p.m. Thursday. The Knights of Columbus will have a service at 6:30, followed by a prayer service at 7.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Nicholas Church in O'Fallon. Msgr. William Hitpas will officiate. Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Shiloh, Ill.