Avis de décès de William-Tilden York

William "Bill" Tilden York, 89, passed away on May 1, 2008. Bill was born on September 23, 1918, in Rosedale, Okla., the oldest son of Samuel Tilden York and Lillie Leota (Goddard) York, who preceded him in death. He grew up in Kansas City, Mo., where he was a soda jerk and worked for a newspaper. In Kansas City he met and married his first wife of 58 years in 1940, Ardella Grace (Coble) York, who predeceased him. He was also preceded in death by his brother Ralph, sister Edna Mae, grandson Robbie Meyer, great-granddaughter Ashley Meyer as well as his Coble in-laws. His wife of seven years, Lola Mae Cobb York survives Bill York. Also surviving him are his brother Heston York and wife Vada of Blue Springs, Mo., Gwen York (widow of Ralph York) Raymore, Mo., and his children Karen Stephens of Springfield, Mo., Roberta "Bobbie" Morris and husband Don of North St. Paul, Minn., and Bruce William York of Miami, Fla., step-son Ralph Cobb and wife Colleen of Seligman, Mo., and Carol Miller (widow of step-son Bill Cobb) of Springfield, Mo.; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; 12 stepgrandchildren and eight stepgreat-grandchildren. Pallbearers include grandsons Bill Meyer, Tom Meyer, Michael Meyer, Chuck Morris, Steve Morris and step-grandson Seth Cobb. Bill York proudly served for 25 years in the U.S. Army, with assignments in the South Pacific during World War II, where he was wounded and honored with the Purple Heart award. Subsequently, he was an advisor to the German Labour Service Unit for three years in Germany. Returning to Kansas City, he served as "your friendly Army Recruiter" there and later in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., where he lived for 40 years. After retiring from the military in 1963, he worked for the 3M Company, first as a security guard and then as a locksmith. Before retiring again in 1984, he owned his own locksmith shop. He lived a full life as a caring husband, father and grandfather. Bill and his wife Ardella hosted several foster children and enjoyed traveling until her health precluded it. He cared for her at home until her death. Bill then moved near daughter Karen in Springfield, Mo, in 1999, where he met and married a widow Lola, Mae Cobb York in 2001. Trips to Branson, Purple Heart activities and bowling filled his later years. Bill is fondly remembered by a plethora of friends from the Moose Lodge #40 in St. Paul, VFW of N. St. Paul, Order of the Purple Heart (Missouri Chapter 621), bowling buddies, and his church family at Macedonia Baptist Church. Visitation will be Tuesday, May 13, 2008, in the Walnut Lawn Funeral Home Chapel from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday, May 14, 2008, in the Macedonia Baptist Church at 2 p.m. Burial will be at a later date in Springfield National Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be sent to the American Lung Association or the Macedonia Baptist Church Building Fund. An online memorial may be signed at www.walnutlawn funeralhome.com.