Wilfred “Bill” Charbonneau, 83, of La Marque, Texas, passed away on October 21, 2014. He was born on October 19, 1931 in Nashua, New Hampshire to Regina and Wilfred Charbonneau. Bill was in the United States Army, where he served admirably in both Korea and Vietnam, receiving the Bronze Star along with many other awards and medals. He was a member of the 101st Airborne Division, and Retired as a Major from the United States Army in 1974. Before moving his family to La Marque, Bill was a student at the University of Texas-El Paso; there he received both his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education. He also worked as the Director of Training in the Naval Station Yard, in Long Beach California.

Bill moved his family to the Galveston County Area to help develop the Dislocated Worker’s Program for the College of the Mainland at the Danforth Campus; he later became the Dean of Economic Development for College of the Mainland. After his retirement, he invested his time in the Senior Education Department where he taught a computer class. Bill was very involved in the community; he was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Scottish Rite in Galveston, the VFW, the Mainland Elks Lodge, and the Crime Stoppers of La Marque. He was a Lifetime member of the Texas Technical Training Association, a Local Election Judge, and a member of the La Marque Planning Commission. In 2009 he was elected a Mayor of La Marque, Texas. Most recently, Bill was a Board Director for both the Economic Development Council and La Marque Aid & Guidance. He never let his deafness define his life; rather he met each with challenge vigor and worked to promote a better community. That is his Legacy.

He is preceded in death by his mother and father; Regina and Wilfred Charbonneau, and his wife of 50 years; Lou Giberson Charbonneau. He is survived by his two daughters; Cheryl Charbonneau and Debbie Charbonneau Lykens of Ward, Kansas, his two sons; Bruce Bell of Blythewood, South Carolina, and Stephen Bell of Arlington, Virginia, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2014 at 11:00am at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church in La Marque. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, 1601 Lake Rd, La Marque, TX 77568.