VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA Office of the National Chaplain Taps March/April 2009 JOHN RICHARD AYERS – Died Wednesday, October 8, 2008 in Akron, Ohio at the age of 67. The cause of death was a heart attack. He was born April 10, 1950 in Ohio. He is survived by his wife LaVerne Ayers, of the home. He served in the United States Army with service in the Vietnam War and retired at the rank of E-7, Sergeant First Class. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Cuyahoga Falls Chapter #717. WILLIAM JAMES “Bill“ BABCOCK - Died on Friday, December 19th in Wakefield, Rhode Island at the age of 64. The cause of death is unknown. He was born June 8, 1944 in Peacedale, Rhode Island. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Wakefield Chapter #325. Funeral service Tuesday 11 IS at the AVERY-STORTI Funeral Home, Wakefield. Visiting hours, Monday 5-8 PM. LARRY G. BEMIS - Died Monday, September 1, 2008 at his home in Excelsior Springs, Missouri at the age of 61. The cause of death is unknown. He was born July 7, 1947 in Antigo, Wisconsin. In accordance with the family's wishes, cremation services are private. He served in the United States Army and was a Vietnam War veteran from 1969 to 1970. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Kansas City Chapter #317. Arrangements: Polley Funeral Home, Excelsior Springs JOHN JOSEPH BILOVECKY – Died Thursday, December 11, 2008 in Lawton, Oklahoma at the age of 80. The cause of death is unknown. He was born August 31, 1928 in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania to the late Joseph and Mary Danyo Bilovecky. He is survived by his wife, Anna, of the home; five daughters and two sons-in-law, Wanda Bilovecky Toby Wise, Tonia and Felicia and Danny Cox, all of Lawton, Janet Dexter, of Kansas City, Kansas and Sonya Bilovecky, of Texas; four grandchildren and their spouses, D’Esirae and Rodney Schneider, Jeremy Wise and Derek Wise, all of Lawton and Andrew Dexter, of Kansas City, Kansas; one great-granddaughter, Penelope Rose Schneider, and two sisters and brothers-in-law, Helen and Claudie Romanini and Evelyn and Eddie Oros, all of Ohio. In addition to his parents, he is predeceased by two daughters, Kathryn and Evelyn Bilovecky and several brothers and sisters. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus. He was a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Lawton Chapter #751. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated in Holy Family Catholic Church with Father Kirk Larkin as Main Celebrant. Interment with full military honors was in the Fort Sill National Cemetery with Deacon Jim Coe, officiating. SIDNEY C. BOOTY, JR. - Died Wednesday, January 7, 2009 in Longview, Texas at the age of 64. The cause of death is unknown. He was born December 14, 1944 in Longview. Funeral services were at 11:00 AM on January 15, 2009, at the Parkview Baptist Church, with the Rev. J. C. Watkins, officiating. Cremation arrangements are by Turner Brothers. Mortuary. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Longview Chapter #987. He was a Baptist. Survivors include his wife, Dabbie Booty; sons, James E. Alford and Curtis Newhouse; brothers, James E. Lee, Johnny Lee, Willie Booty and Lucilia Booty; and sisters, Cora Booty and Martha Johnson. A private viewing for the family will be at the funeral home. RONALD WAYNE BOWLIN – Died recently in 2008 in Savannah, Missouri at the age of 68. The cause of death is unknown. He was born March 30, 1940. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was an At-Large Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Missouri. CHESTER BOUGHAN – Died Saturday, December 1, 2007 in Cheboygan, Michigan at the age of 83. The cause of death is unknown. He was a Life Member of Associates of Vietnam Veterans of America – Cheboygan Chapter #274. CHARLES L. “Chaz” BRIDENBAKER – Died Monday, July 12, 2004 in Amherst, New York at the age of 56. The cause of death was lung cancer. He is survived by his wife, Linda, of the home. He served in the United States Army during the 1968 TET Offensive. He was a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Lockport Chapter #268. JAMES FRANCIS “Jim“ BRIDGES - Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Wednesday, September 10, 2008, after a courageous battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – Lou Gehrig’s Disease. He was 64 years of age. He was born May 28, 1944 in Saint Louis, Missouri. Beloved husband of Beverly Bridges (nee Seibert); dear father of Jennifer (Bruce) Major and Jim Bridges, Jr.; dear Papa of Madison Lynn Major; dear brother-in-law of Gary Seibert, S.J. and Andrea (Dan) Walters; dear uncle and friend. 1LT Bridges, USA served as a combat helicopter medic with the 21st Medical Evacuation Battalion, 23rd Infantry 'Americal' Division from August, 1969 through August, 1970 in the vicinity of Kham Duc, Republic of Vietnam. He was twice awarded the Bronze Star Medal (with Combat V) and the Purple Heart Medal. A special thanks to Pathways Community Hospice. He was an At-Large Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Missouri. Funeral Mass will be Monday, 11 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Kirkwood. Interment Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Visitation Sunday 4-8 p.m. at BOPP Chapel, 10610 Manchester Road in Kirkwood. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Salvation Army. K. C. BRIMER – Died Tuesday, November 11, 2008 in Garden City, Michigan at the age of 60. The cause of death was chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder. He was born March 7, 1948 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He served In the United States Army with a tour in Vietnam from August 1968 to July 1969. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Plymouth Chapter #528. JON NEIL BRINKLEY – Died recently in 2009 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the age of 62. The cause of death is unknown. He was born April 28, 1946. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He was a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Indianapolis Chapter #295. HENRY R. “Hank” BROCKMAN, JR. – Died Thursday, January 8, 2009 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin at the age of 69. The cause of death is unknown. He was born December 15, 1939 to the late Henry R. Brockman, Sr. and Susan (née Stieber) Brockman. He married Nancy Kacmarynski on June 24, 1961 at Saint Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Brillion, Wisconsin. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his grandchildren; his brother and sister-in-law, John and Esther Brockman, of Nashville, Tennessee and many nieces and nephews. He served in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam-era. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Sheboygan Chapter #618. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at the Immaculate Conception Church in Sheboygan. JOHN W. BRYANT – Died Friday, November 21, 2008 in Junction City, Kansas at the age of 66. The cause of death is unknown. He was born in Supply, North Carolina on October 11, 1942. He is survived by his wife, Frances Bryant, of the home. He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War from 1966 to 1967. He was a Life Member of Vietnam Veterans of America – Junction City Chapter #344. Funeral services were conducted in the Ward Chapel AME Church with the Pastor Viola Jones, officiating. Interment was in Highland Cemetery with the Fort Riley Honor Guard serving as pallbearers. EUGENE BUFORD, JR. - Died peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Monday January 26, 2009 after a battle with bladder cancer in Spring Valley, New York. He was 62 years of age. He was born August 1, 1946. Eugene has been a Spring Valley resident since he was 14 years old. He graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1966. He served his country proudly in the United States Army as a 173rd Airborne for 2 tours in Vietnam. Eugene had a 2nd black belt and was an instructor in Karate. Eugene is survived by his wife Helen, son Christopher, daughters Kathleen Buford, and Darlene Nash, grandson Christian Garfield Gordon, and his sisters, Victoria Ector, Carletta Phinney and Debbie Mitchell. He is also survived by nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren. He was a member of Vietnam Veterans of America – New City Chapter #333. Family will receive friends on Wednesday 7-9PM and Thursday 2-4 & 7-9PM at Higgins Funeral Home New City, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday 10AM St. Joseph's Church Spring Valley, NY. Interment to follow at Fred Loescher Veteran Cemetery Monsey, NY. Donations can be made to VVA Chapter 333, P.O. Box 243, New City, NY 10956 or United Hospice of Rockland 11 Stokum Lane New City, NY 10956 or American Cancer Society 1 Executive Blvd, Suffern, NY 10901. MICHAEL J. HIGGINS FUNERAL SERVICE 321 South Main Street New City, NY 10956 845-634-6110. VIOLET KATHRYN “Honey” BAUCOM BRABHAM-BURGESS – Died Tuesday, December 9, 2008 in Texarkana, Texas at the age of 88. The cause of death was natural causes. She was born October 29, 1920 in Frisco, Texas. She is survived by two daughters, Nelda Jean Robertson, of Wake Village, Texas and Billie Bailey, of Independence, Kansas; two grandsons, Scott Edward (Melinda) Fletcher, of Double Oaks, Texas and Bret Waylon Bailey, of Independence, Kansas; two granddaughters, Robin Leigh (Greg) Smith, of Hurst, Texas and Jeanne Lynn Bybee, of Austin, Texas; four great-granddaughters; two great-great-grandsons; one great-great-granddaughter; one brother and sister-in-law, Emmett and Karyn Baucum, of New Boston, Texas, and; one sister-in-law and her husband, Eloise and Wayne Graham.