PIERCETON – William E. Shepherd, 66, died Feb. 18, 2013, in Lutheran Hospital, Fort Wayne. He was born Aug. 3, 1946, in Floyd County, Ky., to William and Sarah Collins Shepherd. On July 3, 1969, in Virginia, he married Claudia Whitaker. On May 15, 1999, in Pierceton, he married Barbara Wolfe, who survives in Leesburg. He moved to Kosciusko County in 1968. He served his country honorably as a member of the U.S. Army for 36 years, retiring as a first sargent. He served during the Vietnam War and received three Bronze Stars, one with a “V” Device for heroism; two Army Commendation Awards, one with a “V” Device; two Purple Hearts; and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He was in the Airborne, a prior member of the Company D Rangers, and the Indiana National Guard. He was a member of the 38th Infantry Division Association and the 151st Infantry Association. He was a lifetime member and past commander of the American Legion, Pierceton, and a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Warsaw. He worked at Dalton Foundries for 18 years. Also surviving are a son, Charles Shepherd, Pierceton; two daughters, Sandra Helblig, South Whitley, and Jane Baldridge, Pierceton; two step-daughters, Deb Baker, Silver Lake, and Tona Walter, South Whitley; four sisters, Betty (and spouse Terry) Hall, Pierceton; Carolyn (and spouse Bill) Rose, Liberty Mills; Della Pollock, Silver Lake; and Chris (and spouse Frank) Hyden, Warsaw; three brothers: Charles (and spouse Colleen) Shepherd, Pierceton; Danny (and spouse Debbie) Shepherd, Wynder, Ga.; and Darwin Shepherd, Sellers Lake; 16 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, a son-in-law and a great-granddaughter. Services will be at 2 p.m. Friday at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Pierceton, with Pastors Bud Granger and Carl Hughes officiating. Burial will be at Washington Union Cemetery, Pierceton, with full military honors by the Indiana National Guard Ceremonial Unit. Calling is from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home. ***** Memorials may be made to the William E. Shepherd Funeral Trust, c/o McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel, 2290 Provident Court, Warsaw, IN. Condolences may be sent via mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com
