William Holland

William M. "Pappy" Holland, 83, of Cape Girardeau passed away Thursday, March 31, 2005, at Missouri Veterans Home.

He was born May 11, 1921, at Swinton, Mo., son of Henry Marion and Matta Mae Dellinger Holland. He and Maggie Ruth Masterson were married March 22, 1952, in Piggott, Ark.

Pappy graduated from the former College High School in Cape Girardeau in 1938. He was inducted into the U.S. Army July 22, 1942. He served in Normandy, Northern France, the Rhineland, Ardennes, and Central Europe. He was awarded five Bronze Stars, and was honorably discharged Nov. 7, 1945.

He began working for the former Missouri Utilities Co. in 1952, and retired as a serviceman in 1986.

He was ordained a deacon at Bethany Baptist Church, where he attended many years. He taught adult men's Sunday school classes, drove the church van a number of years, and assisted in many other church functions. Pappy was a member of VFW Post and past commander of the American Legion Post in Cape Girardeau.

Loving survivors include his wife; a son and daughter-in-law, Michael W. and Carrie Holland of Cape Girardeau; four sisters, Thelma Hollis of Hazelwood, Mo., Geneva Hamilton of Grand Junction, Colo., Jeanette Holland of Clayton, Mo., Evangeline "Vannie" (Dean) Suhr of Sedgewickville, Mo.; three grandchildren, Christopher, Kelli and Caroline Holland, all of Cape Girardeau.

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

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Donny Ford officiating. Burial will be in Fairmount Cemetery.

Expressions of sympathy may take the form of contributions to Missouri Veterans Home.