L. R. Billings Missing After French Action
Pfc. Lester R. Billings, 23, Waterloo, has been missing in action in France since Oct. 6, according to a war department message received Thursday by his wife and their 2-year-old son, Donald, 1239 Logan avenue.
Private Billings, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Billings, 327 Conger street, went overseas with the infantry in February. He formerly was employed by the Rath Packing Co., before entering service in August, 1943. He took his training at Camp Blanding, Fla.
His brother, Pvt. Harold, is in Italy with the 34th infantry division.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, November 02, 1944, Page 12 (photo included)
Pfc. Lester Billings Is Listed Dead
Pfc. Lester Billings, 28, previously reported missing in action, Wednesday was listed as killed Oct. 6 in France, according to a war department message to his wife and 2-year-old son, Donald, residing at 1239 ½ Logan avenue.
Private Billings, son of Mr. and Mrs. Roy Billings, 327 Conger street, had been overseas with the infantry since March, serving in Italy and France. Employed by the Rath Packing Co., he entered service in August, 1943, and took his basic training at Camp Blanding, Fla.
Born Apr. 3, 1916, at Albert Lea, Minn., son of Roy and Jennie Fredrickson Billings, he moved to Waterloo with his parents in 1919 and attended grade and junior high schools here. He married Mildred Loy, Pontiac, Ill., at Clear lake, Ia., on July 4, 1939. He was a member of the Walnut Street Baptist church here.
Surviving besides his wife, son and parents are three sisters, Mrs. Edward Wandro, 1449 Walker street; Mrs. Doyle Dana, 540 West Parker street; and Mrs. M. E. Nolan, Alhambra, Cal.; and two brothers, Ralph, 227 Boston avenue, and Pvt. Harold, with the 34th division in Italy. One son, Gary Lee, died in infancy.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Wednesday, November 15, 1944, Page 6
Military Funeral for Pfc. Billings
The body of Pfc. Lester Billings, 28, who was killed in action Oct. 6, 1944, in France, will be returned to Waterloo Tuesday at 5:10 p. m. on the Illinois Central railroad, and will be taken to Kearns Garden chapel.
Son of Mrs. Jennie Fredericksen Billings, 327 Conger street, and Roy Billings, deceased since his son’s death, he had been overseas with the army infantry from March, 1944, until his death, seeing action in Italy and France.
His wife, the former Mildred Loy, whom he married July 4, 1939, at Clear Lake, Ia., and their son, Donald, have moved from Waterloo to Pontiac, Ill.
Private Billings entered service in August, 1943, having been previously employed at Rath Packing Co., and he received basic training at Camp Blanding, Fla.
He was born Apr. 3, 1916, in Albert Lea, Minn., and moved to Waterloo with his parents in 1919. His father succeeded him in death Mar. 7, 1947. He was a member of Walnut Street Baptist church.
Surviving are his wife and son; his mother; two brothers, Ralph Billings, 227 Boston avenue, and Harold, Dan’s Trailer camp, Highway 20; three sisters, Mrs. Mac Mathias, Hollywood, Cal., Mrs. Ed Wandro, 1127 Steely street, and Mrs. Doyle Dana, 612 Broadway.
Services will be Wednesday at 3 p. m. in Kearns Garden chapel, with Rev. Raymond Pritz, pastor of Walnut Street Baptist church, officiating. Burial will be in Greenwood cemetery, Cedar Falls, with military rites by the Disabled American Veterans and Becker-Chapman post American Legion.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Sunday, April 17, 1949, Page 10
