Willard Lain Booth

Willard "Bill" Lain Booth, 98, went to be with the Lord, Wednesday evening, July 18, 2012 at his home in Sunset Village, Jenison, Michigan. He was born March 2, 1914 in Boise, Idaho, to the late Robert and Grace Booth. He married Verna Leone Berkey November 7, 1944 at the Seattle Naval Hospital. She survives. Also surviving are a daughter, Nancy and Don Wike of Hudsonville, Michigan; two sons, Kendall and Shirley Booth of Bristol, and Brian Booth of Indianapolis; 11 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren, who he adored. He was preceded in death by a son, Ted in 2000; two sisters, Roberta and Thelma; and a brother, Melvin. He joined the Navy 1932 serving aboard the Neches AO 47 during Pearl Harbor. The Neches was sunk a month later and Bill received a meritorious award for securing the engine room before abandoned ship orders were given. Bill was also aboard an ice breaker that charted the underwater passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic under the North Pole. He also saw action in the Pacific and Korea during his time of service retiring from the Navy in 1955. Following retirement, he owned and operated the Modernistic Barber and Beauty Shop in Elkhart and Beauty by Booth; worked as a purchasing agent at Ventline and retired from Coachmen Industries. He was a member of Sugar Grove Church and since his recent move to the Grand Rapids area, attended Georgetown Bible Church. He was a lifetime member of the Gideon's International where he served faithfully. Friends may call 4 to 7 p.m., Sunday, July 22, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home where an 11 a.m., Monday, July 23, 2012, funeral service will be conducted. Pastor Daniel Gelatt will officiate. Burial, with military honors, will follow in Rock Run Cemetery, Goshen. Memorial contributions may be made to Gideon's International or Sugar Grove Church Building Fund.