William E. Shepherd, age 66, passed away at the Lutheran Hospital, in Fort Wayne, Ind., on Monday, Feb. 18, 2013.

William was born Aug. 3, 1946, to William and Sarah (Collins) Shepherd, in Floyd County. He was a Kosciusko County resident after moving there in 1968. William married Claudia Whitaker on July 3, 1969, in Virginia, and then Barbara Wolfe on May 15, 1999, in Pierceton, Ind.

William served his country honorably as a member of the U.S. Army for 36 years, retiring as a first sergeant. He served during the Vietnam Conflict. He received three Bronze Stars, one with a “V” device for heroism; two Army Commendation medals, one with a “V” device; two Purple Hearts; and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. William 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 Infanry Association. William was also a lifetime member and past commander of the American Legion, in Pierceton, and a lifetime member of the VFW, of Warsaw, Ind.

William worked at Dalton Foundries for 18 years.

William is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Shepherd, of Leesburg, Ind.; a son, Charles Shepherd, of Pierceton; two daughters, Sandra Helblig, of South Whitley, Ind., and Jane Baldridge, of Pierceton; two step-daughters, Deb Baker, of Silver Lake, Ind., and Tona Walter, of South Whitley. William also has four sisters, Betty (spouse Terry) Hall, of Pierceton, Carolyn (spouse Bill) Rose, of Liberty Mills, Ind., Della Pollock, Silver Lake, and Chris (spouse Frank) Hyden, of Warsaw; and three brothers, Charles (spouse Colleen) Shepherd, of Pierceton, Danny (spouse Debbie) Shepherd, of Wynder, Ga., and Darwin Shepherd, of Sellers Lake, Ind. William also has 16 grandchildren, and seven great grandchildren.

William was preceded in death by his parents, a son-in-law and a great granddaughter.

Funeral services for William will be at 2 p.m., Friday, Feb. 22, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, in Pierceton, with with Pastor Bud Granger and Pastor Carl Hughes officiating. Visitation will be on Thursday, Feb. 21, from 2 to 4 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m., at the McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel, in Pierceton. Burial will be at the Washington Union Cemetery, in Pierceton, with full military honors by the Indiana National Guard Ceremonial Unit.

Family has asked for memorials to be made out to the William E. Shepherd Funeral Trust c/o McHatton Sadler Funeral Chapel.

To sign the guestbook or send condolences electronically, go to mchattonsadlerfuneralchapels.com.