Wilburn D. Mangrum

Wilburn D. "Bill" Mangrum, also known as "Dub", age 85, of West, passed away early Wednesday evening, August 16, 2006 at West Rest Haven. Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday at the Aderhold Funeral Home Chapel in West, with Rev. Gene Kotrla officiating. Military Graveside Rites will follow at Closner Cemetery. The family will receive visitors from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Mr. Mangrum was born October 18, 1920 in Limestone County, the son of William and Minnie (Jordan) Mangrum. He graduated from Waco High School. He began his military service with the 36th Division of the Texas National Guard and entered into active duty with the United States Army in 1940. He took infantry training at Brownwood, TX, Camp Blanding, FL, and Camp Edwards, MA. Bill transferred to the Army Air Corps in 1942 and attended airplane mechanic school in Biloxi, MS at Keesler Field, AFB. He then attended aerial gunnery school at Harlingen AFB and became a member of the 450th Bomb Group at Alamogordo AFB, NM. Bill crossed four continents by way of South America and Africa on his way to battle during World War II. There he flew 50 combat missions over enemy- occupied Europe and was wounded over Budapest, Hungary on April 3, 1944. He later began assisting in training new crews for the B-24 Liberator and was preparing to serve in the Pacific Theater when the war ended. In addition to receiving a Purple Heart, he also received an EAME Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star, a Distinguished Unit Badge, a Good Conduct Medal, an American Service Defense Medal, an Air Medal with 8 Oak Leaf Clusters, and a World War II Victory Medal. On January 8, 1946, he was united in marriage to Donna "Donnie" Pethoud Rademacher in Hillsboro, TX. After making their home in Waco, Bill became a letter carrier for the Waco Post Office. He worked there for 33 years before retiring in 1977. Bill and Donnie were longtime and faithful members of the First United Church in West and former members of the Lakeview Methodist Church. He was a member of the West Kiwanis Club, past president of the National Association of Letter Carriers Waco Local #404. He was serving as president in 1970 when the National strike vote was taken and Waco voted not to strike. Bill and Donnie enjoyed dancing, especially the last several years at the Over 50 Dance Club dances. They were members of the West Nursing Home Dance Club, the Young at Heart Dance Club, and the Sul Ross Dance Club. Bill also served as a member of the Bellmead Masonic Lodge, West Masonic Lodge, Waco Scottish Rite, Karem Shrine Temple, American Legion Post #478, West V.F.W. Post #4819, West Purple Heart Chapter, 36th Division Assoc., 143 Infantry Assoc., and the B-24 Club. His parents; and a son, David Mangrum; step daughter, Cheryl Kay Rademacher; and a sister, Martha Meares Dees, preceded him in death. Survivors include his beloved wife of 60 years, Donnie Mangrum of West; a son, Boyd Mangrum and wife Mary of West; a daughter, Connie Williams and husband Frank of Murray, NE; a stepson, Richard Rademacher and wife Phyllis of Waco; one brother, Sam Mangrum and wife JoAnn of Waco; two sisters, Lucile Lau of St. Petersburg, FL and Millie Feller and husband Verlon of Holly Lake Ranch, TX; brother-in-law, R. D. Dees of Overton; thirteen grandchildren; ten great-grandchildren; and several nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Active pallbearers are Tony Kubacak, Leland Mangrum, Jon Eagen, Jeremy Lightfoot, Bobby Mangrum, and Tim Mangrum. Honorary pallbearers will be V.F.W. Post 4819 of West. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, West Senior Center or Closner Cemetery Association.