William G. Weeks
William G. Weeks, 85 years and 2 days old, passed away on Oct. 27, 2009, at his home in Albany, Mo.
He was born in St. Joseph, Mo., to Roy and Elizabeth (Smith) Weeks on Oct. 25, 1924. His parents moved to Newton, Iowa, in 1929, and William graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1943.
Shortly after graduation, he joined the Army Airforce and was a member of the 100th Bomb Group, 8th Airforce, 351st squadron based out of Thorpe Abbots Airfield in England during World War II. He was a staff sargent. William flew 35 missions over Germany and was awarded five Air Medal Oakleaf Clusters, two Bronze Battle Stars and a European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal while in the European Theatre of Operations. William flew on the Mason and Dixon and his job was the ball turret gunner — a job nobody wanted and often referred to as a death trap. He left England after 35 missions and was discharged in October 1945.
William married the love of his life, Aletha Ferne McComas of Denver, Mo., in Troy, Kan., on Sept. 7, 1946, and made their home in Denver, Mo. In 1957, they moved to Newton, where William pursued a career as an electrician. He was a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local for 40 years. He retired in 1984. Upon his retirement, William and Ferne moved to Albany to live closer to family and pursue a hobby of raising cattle and growing excellent pasture and hay fields for their herd. William was an accomplished pilot and enjoyed flying, especially to Canada, on fishing trips and yearly Oshkosh Conventions.
William was a member of the Experimental Aircraft Association and an avid ham radio operator — call letters WPRA, standing for Pretty Red Apple or as he called himself sometimes “Poor Ragged Amateur.” William and Ferne rarely missed their grandsons’ football or baseball games. In later years, they became great-grandparents to Adrian Taylor, better known as “Sweet Pea,” who was the apple of their eyes and the daughter of Chase and Ashley Sorensen.
William was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Aletha, and his parents, Roy and Elizabeth (Smith) Weeks.
He is survived by his daughter, Billie Sorensen, and husband, Gordon, of Denver, Mo., and grandchildren Chase Sorensen and daughter Adrian of Kansas City, Mo., and Brent Sorensen of Denver, Mo.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, at the Prugh-Dunfee Funeral Home in Grant City with service to follow. Interment and Military Rites by American Legion Post 92 and V.F.W. Post 3123 will be in the Miller Cemetery near Denver, Mo. Family and friends are invited to William’s home after services. Chaplain Marty Clary will officiate. Pallbearers will be Dale Findley, Ronnie Roach, Dan Parman, Jim Dunfee and Chase and Brent Sorensen. Memorials may be made to Hands of Hope Hospice of Albany, Mo.
