Bill Vinzant's Obituary
William Harlan Vinzant passed away on August 25, 2017 at Mercy Medical Center Hospice in Centerville, Iowa. William (Bill) Vinzant was born on November 15, 1923 to Harlan and Katherine (Campbell) Vinzant. He attended Centerville High School. He farmed with his father and was active in 4-H and Appanoose County Fair, where he volunteered for many years and helped weigh animals until his late 80's. He supported his children and grand-children with their 4-H projects. Bill married Bonnie Jean Samson on May 20, 1951. They had five children together. He was a WWII veteran. His army basic training was in Camp Robinson, Arkansas. He was designated a sharp shooter with a rifle and spent one year in the Philippines in the 803rd Engineering Aviation Battalion. He was discharged in 1946 as a Staff Sergeant. Bill graduated from Iowa State University in 1950 with a degree in Animal Husbandry. Education was very important to him, he was very good at math and even when he was 92 he said he could remember how to do the square root of a number. After graduation from ISU he taught farming to GI's at the high school in Centerville for one year. Bill was active in Mason and was master Mason in 1957 at Walnut Lodge 588 in Mystic for three years. He was secretary for 20 years and Junior Grand Deacon from 1979-1980 with the Grand Lodge of Iowa. He was a fifty year member of the Order of Eastern Star. During the years he was involved with several agricultural organizations in Appanoose County. He was on the County Health Board for 30 years and the Board of Review for the Assessor's Office for 20 years and a number of 4-H committees. Bill loved his church-First United Methodist Church. He also loved farming and spending time with his grand-children. He was an avid reader and liked doing Sudoku. He watched all of the Iowa State basketball and football games on tv. One of his favorite memories was the trip he made to Washington DC on the Honor Flight from Des Moines. He had never been on a plane before, and he talked about the experience for years, it meant so much to him. Bill was a kind and caring "gentle giant". Those left to cherish his loving memory are his wife of 66 years, Bonnie, daughters; Margaret (Duffy) Kester, Jan Vinzant, and Mary (Lloyd) Davis, sons; David (Sandy) Vinzant and John (Stacy) Vinzant, grand-children; Michael (Maria) Vinzant, Kate (Patrick) Cail, Jackson Vinzant, and Evelyn Vinzant, great grand-children; Ethan Vinzant and Erin Coil. He was preceded in death by his parents Harlan and Katherine, his sisters; Margaret, Katherine and twin sister Dorothy. He was always ready with a smile and twinkle in his blue eyes. His steady quiet calm and integrity will be so missed. Funeral service will be Tuesday, August 29, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at First United Methodist Church in Centerville. Interment at Oakland Cemetery immediately following service. Visitation will be Monday, August 26, 2017 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Thomas Funeral Home in Centerville. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations be made to First United Methodist Church in Centerville, Iowa. Online condolences may be shared at www.thomasfh.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Bill Vinzant please visit our Sympathy Store. Cemetery Details Oakland Cemetery E. State St. & N. 21st St.
Centerville, IA 52544 Visitation AUG 28. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CDT) Thomas Funeral Home-Centerville 501 North 18th StreetCenterville, IA 52544http://www.thomasfh.com Funeral Service AUG 29. 10:00 AM (CDT) First United Methodist Church 410 North Main St.Centerville, IA 52544http://www.centervillefirst.org/
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