On Monday, December 16, DeSoto Parish lost our oldest World War II veteran on record at 98 years of age. William “Billy” McElroy earned his silver wings to make his homecoming flight to heaven. He is survived by his wife, Jean Harris McElroy of Mansfield, daughters Margaret Hines of Los Angeles, CA, Susan Picket of Tampa, FL, Christy LoBue and her husband John of Keithville, step-daughter Debra Collier and her husband Bruce of Mansfield, Shane Harris and his wife Tammy of Stonewall, and grandchildren, Holly Hines, Blake Pickett, Will Pickett, Brady LoBue, Justin LoBue, and Christian LoBue as well as great-grandchildren Carson Pickett, Harlow Hines and Faith LoBue.
“Mr. Billy”, as he was affectionately known to most in Mansfield, was born on January 21, 1921 in Oil City, Louisiana to Jake and Ruby McElroy. His parents preceded him in death, along with his first wife of 56 years, Marjorie Carey McElroy, and his sisters, Dorothy Deen and Mary Ellen Register.