William S. Dubois

William S. DuBois, 90 of Connersville passed away at his home surrounded by his family Saturday morning, May 16, 2015. A Fayette County native, William was born August 10, 1924 to Orville William and Helen Gladys Sherwood DuBois and attended Connersville High School. On December 16, 1942 he was married in Harrisburg, Indiana in Fayette County to the former Irene Caldwell. William was a World War II veteran, having enlisted in the United States Coast Guard on June 29, 1943 and served until being honorably discharged on December 21, 1945. During this time he was assigned to the US Naval Flag Ship and attack transport, the USS Bayfield, where he achieved the rank of Motor Machinist Mate Third Class. On D-Day, June 6, 1944 as the invasion of Normandy began, William delivered troops in a landing craft to the shores of Utah Beach. He also fought in Iwo Jima, where he saw the raising of the United States flag. He fought in Southern France and Okinawa as well. His military decorations included four bronze stars for his combat activity. Upon his discharge in 1945, he returned to Connersville and retired after forty-seven years from H.H. Robertson as foreman of press room fabrication. William was a member of the Fairfield Lodge # 98, F. & A.M. where he was past Master. In his leisure time, he enjoyed woodworking, leather craft and raising horses. William was also a blacksmith and a mechanic. William is survived by his children: Curtiz G. DuBois of Eagle Lake, Minnesota; Shirley M. Leo and her husband, James of Richmond; his brother: Loral DuBois; his half-brothers: Bernard D. Brown; Douglas Brown and his wife, Sandy; his half- sisters: Sally Apple and her husband, Gary; Dianne Reynolds and her husband, Robert, all of Connersville; eight grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, William was preceded in death by his wife of sixty years, Irene, who died July 14, 2003; his daughter: Jennifer “Jenny” Latham; his brother and sister-in-law: Marion and Florence DuBois; his sister-in-law: Sally Brown. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 23, 2015 at Showalter Blackwell Long Funeral Home, Myers Chapel, Connersville by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Dan Parker will officiate with Faye Johnson and Reverend James Leo as speakers. Memorial Masonic services will be provided by Fairfield Lodge #98 F. & A.M. at 11 a.m. Saturday, prior to the funeral service. Interment will follow in Everton Cemetery with military graveside honors conducted by the Fayette County Veterans Council. Friends may visit at the funeral home from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. Friday where memorial contributions may be made to the donor’s choice of charity.