William Earl Stonecipher

Funeral services will be held at 3:00 pm on Monday, July 9, 2007 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for William Earl 'Bill' Stonecipher, 89, who passed away Friday, July 6, 2007 at Magnolia Estates Nursing Home. Reverend Ira Robinson, Minister of Visitation at Asbury Methodist Church will officiate the funeral services. Interment will take place in Holy Mary, Mother of God Cemetery in Lafayette. Mr. Stonecipher was born in Haynesville, La to George Clawson and Eva Bond Stonecipher on July 4, 1918. He was a graduate of Haynesville High School where he was a member of the 1936 State Champion Golden Tornados football team. He was a Veteran of WWII where he served in the Army Coast Artillery for five years. He was a resident of Lafayette where he worked for Bell South Telephone Company for thirty five years. He was a member of the Telephone Pioneers of America. He was also active in the Fatima Booster Club and Toastmasters Club. In his earlier years he enjoyed fishing and hunting. He will be remembered as a devoted husband, father and grandfather, and will be sadly missed by all his family and friends. He is survived by his wife of fifty five years, Ramona 'Toni' Stonecipher of Lafayette; four sons and their wives, George and Midge Stonecipher, Ben and Robin Stonecipher, both of Lafayette, Will and Jenny Stonecipher of Mechanicsburg, Pa and Roger and Karen Stonecipher of Dallas, Tx; five daughters, Nancy Massey of Tyler, Tx, Gina Holloway of Lafayette, Dana Newberry and husband, Gary of Houston, Tx, Claudia Gilmer and husband, Patrick of Baton Rouge, and Stella Page and husband, Andrew of Tylertown, Ms; twenty three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one brother, Edsel and wife, Margaret Stonecipher of Springhill; and a host of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Reilly, Wade, R.L., and Evon Stonecipher; and two sisters, Vangie Bevill, and Earnestine Chatwin. Visiting hours will be observed on Sunday from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm and will continue on Monday from 8:00 am until the time of services. A Rosary will be recited at 6:00 pm in the funeral home by members of the St. Mary's Alter Society. Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Luke and Ben Massey, Todd Stonecipher, Andre' Holloway, David and Michael Newberry, and John and Matt Gilmer. Honorary pallbearers will be Phillip Stonecipher, Dan Gilmer, Aaron Stonecipher, Chandler Stonecipher, Christian Stonecipher, Sam Stonecipher, James Stonecipher, and Joel Page. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to a charity of your choice. Personal condolences may be sent to the Stonecipher family at www.delhommefuneralhome.com. Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette is in charge of funeral arrangements.

William Earl Stonecipher

July 4, 1918 - July 6, 2007