Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William L. Witham Sr., 85

OCEAN SPRINGS, Miss. - Retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. William L. Witham Sr. of Ocean Springs departed this life Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2007, from complications of a stroke, in Ocean Springs. He was 85.

Mr. Witham was born Jan. 23, 1922.

He served his country in World War II in the European Theater, and in the Korean War. As a member of the 15th Air Force in southern Italy, he participated in 52 combat missions and was awarded numerous medals to include the Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters.

Mr. Witham retired in 1963, and continued his service to his country as a civil servant with the U.S. Air Force in aircraft maintenance, retiring after 20 years.

He flew numerous aircraft such as the B-26, B-24, C-54, C-124, and C-133.

Mr. Witham was a patriotic American, who loved his family and was a warm and friendly person throughout his life. He will be missed greatly.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Louise, in 1987.

He is survived by Laurel Elder-Witham of Ocean Springs; his two sisters, Mary Witham and Martha Witham; three children, William L. Witham Jr., Cora Lee Witham and Melinda Rae Zimmerman; and six grandchildren, Becky Berghaus, Abby Beattie, Lena Zimmerman, Jeff Zimmerman, Randy Witham and Greg Witham; four great-grandchildren, Henry Beattie, Hanna Beattie, Marlee Berghaus and Alexandra Berghaus; his other child, Bonnie Furey; and three grandchildren, Dennis Furey, Amy Jones, and Christine Furey.

Military services will take place at Biloxi National Cemetery, and interment will be private.

Letters of condolence may be sent to Laurel Elder-Witham at 3106 ShadowWood Drive, Ocean Springs, MS 39564.

Instead of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Alzheimer Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, Ill 60601-7633; or to the Presbyterian Church of Dover.

Funeral arrangements were by Bradford-O"Keefe of Ocean Springs.