Billie Edward Church, 76 of Columbus, MS died Tuesday, April 13, 2010, at Baptist Memorial Hospital/GT in Columbus. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Funeral Home. A Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated Friday, April 16, 2010 at 11:00 AM at Annunciation Catholic Church with Father Robert Dore, celebrant. Visitation will begin at 10 :00 AM in the church Atrium. Burial with full military honors will immediately follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Born Monday, November 13, 1933 in Booneville, MS, he was the son of the late Willie Newton Church and the late Willie Belle Johnson Church. He retired from the US Air Force in 1972 at Barksdale AFB, LA with the rank of Master Sgt. with twenty years of service. During his time in the Air Force, which spanned both the Korean Conflict and the Vietnam War, he was an aircraft mechanic, performed quality control on the planes and worked in Logistics. A resident of Columbus since 1964, he went to work for Waters Truck and Tractor as a Warranty Mgr. shortly after retiring from the Air Force in 1972. He retired in 1992 from Waters with approximately twenty years of employment. He was a member of Annunciation Catholic Church, VFW, numerous coffee clubs and a former member of the Lions Club. He also bred and raised Boston Terriers and loved all of his dogs. He had a tremendous wit , which he kept , even during his lengthy illness. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by two grandchildren Jason Wingo and Jessica Church. He is survived by his wife Barbara Lawrence Duhon Church of Columbus, sons, William Church (Anita) of Poplarville, MO, David Church (Clare) of Los Angeles, CA and Kevin Church of Oklahoma City, OK, daughters, Deborah Kidder (Richard) of Columbus, MS and Cynthia Primm (Lindsey) of Springlake , NC, brother, Melvin Church (Charlene) of Booneville, MS, and sister, Lila Lauderdale( Billy Joe) of Booneville, MS. He is also survived by 11 grandchildren Christopher Sarris, Michael Church (Lindsey), Nick Church (Jennifer), Amanda Church, Tiffany Evans (Sam), Tiffany Boykin (Terry), Blake Church (Kayla), Michelle Allen (Kurtis),Mason Church, Kevin Church, Jr. and Caitlyn Church. He is also survived by 10 great grandchildren Haley Church, Taylor Marie Sarris, Makayla Church, Evelyn Boykin, Cameron Tyler Boykin, Madison Grace Boykin, Sarah Church, Gabriel Church, Maia Evans and Kiera Church. Pallbearers will be his grandsons. Memorials may be made to Annunciation Catholic Church Building Fund, 823 College Street, Columbus, MS 39701.
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