Willis DeWitt Boatright

Funeral services for Willis Dewitt Boatright, 96, of Monroe, LA, will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, June 4, 2016 in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home with Rev. Gordon Dasher officiating. Interment will follow at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. until time of service.Mr. Boatright was born on October 10, 1919, in Farmerville, Louisiana, and passed away on Monday, May 30, 2016, at St. Francis Medical Center Downtown. Dewitt graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1938 and was a charter member of the University Church of Christ. Dewitt enlisted in the Army on April 8, 1941, serving as a ball turret gunner on a B-17 in the 8th Army Air Corps, 96th Bomb Group, based out of Snetterton, England, from 1942 until May 12, 1944, when his plane was shot down over Nazi Germany thereby becoming a “guest” of the Third Reich. He spent time as a POW in Stalag Luft IV, VII, and VIII, before liberation by General Patton’s Third Army on April 29, 1945. He was discharged on October 10, 1945, from Barksdale AFB in Shreveport having completed his service time at Selman Field. Following WWII he worked as a letter carrier with the USPS for over 33 years.Mr. Boatright was preceded in death by his wife of over 56 years, Ellen Fontenot Boatright; parents, Bethel and Grace Brazzeal Boatright; sister, Nell Thrower; brother, Mark Boatright; and nephew, David Mark Boatright. Survivors include a son, Sam Boatright and wife, Nancy; daughter, Ellen Ann Gober and husband, Giles; grandchildren, Emily Boatright, John Boatright, Paul Gober, Megan West and husband, Scotty; Melanie Sartain and husband, Brandon; Aimee Page and husband, Russ; two great grandchildren; and niece, Linda Donaldson.The family wishes to extend their thanks to his full-time caregiver Paul Gober, his caregiver Clarice Taylor, Dr. Kerry Anders and staff, and the staff on the 5th floor of St. Francis Hospital.Memorials may be made to the University Church of Christ, 3605 DeSiard St., Monroe, LA 71203.Online Registry/Condolences: www.mulhearnfuneralhome.comMulhearn Funeral HomeSterlington RoadMonroe, LA