Willie J. Prejean

passed away on November 19, at the age of 85 in St. Luke's Hospital after fighting pneumonia. He was born Feb. 15, 1919 in Iowa, La. He moved to Texas and graduated in 1938 from Jefferson Davis High School. He served in the U.S. Army from 1941 to 1945 during WWII; fought in Lorraine, France and Germany in company "C", 274th infantry Regiment, 70th Infantry Division, and 7th U.S. Army. The 70th Division faced Hitler's famous SS troops, Mountain Ranger Troops, flanked by George Patton's 3rd Army on the left and the French 1st army to their right. After the long and bitter fighting this was the end of Hitler. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Combat Infantry Badge, having fought and served over seas for 35 months. He attended and graduated from Oklahoma State University School of Baking, (where he also taught), also world-renowned American Institute of Baking and the Wilton school of Cake Decorating and Candy making. After graduating he worked for the Army as Senior Bakery Specialist and Consultant with responsibility for world-wide Department of Army Bakery Operations directly under Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics' Headquarters. He traveled world-wide to report on, teach, and inspect all bakeries for the Armed Forces. He was married and survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Rhoda Gass Prejean. Survived also by their daughter Yvonne Renee Gangler. He was preceded in death by their son Randall John Prejean who died in 1958. He also has a surviving daughter, Willie Ann and a granddaughter, Patricia. He has 2 grandsons, Ralph E. Gangler married to Sabrina and Paul J. Gangler married to Melissa with their great-grandchildren, Donavan (9), Seth (5), and Raymond(1). He will be remembered, loved, and missed by relatives and friends in Texas, Louisiana, and California, too numerous to mention. Visitation will be held at Earthman Resthaven 13102 North Freeway on Sunday, November 21 from 3:00 pm to 9:00 pm with a Rosary Vigil at 7:30 pm. Celebration of Life Mass will be celebrated at St. Edward Catholic Church 2601 Spring Stuebner on Monday, November 22 at 9:30 am. Interment will follow at Resthaven Cemetery.