Husband of Marjorie Alyce Signs Schlotfeldt~

WILLIAM "BILL" WEST SCHLOTFELDT, age 77, of Bayou Vista died Monday, June 30, 2003 at John Sealy Hospital in Galveston. Funeral services will be held at 12:00 noon, Thursday, July 3, 2003 at Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church with the Reverend Richard Goodrich, officiating. Burial will follow at Houston National Cemetery in Houston under the direction of Carnes Brothers Funeral Home. Visitation will be held from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Wednesday at Carnes brothers Funeral Home, 1201 Tremont, Galveston, Texas, with a Marine Corps presentation at 5:00 pm and the Tucker Lodge # 297 AF & AM services at 7:00 pm. Bill was born July 9, 1925 in Des Moines, Iowa to Dale William Schlotfeldt and Agnes Bertha Klewer Schlotfeldt. He graduated from Newton High School in 1943. He then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps on August 25, 1943 and served his country faithfully in WWII in the South Pacific and then in Korea from 1950 until 1952. Bill rose to the rank of Sergeant while serving with the 1st Battalion, 11th Regiment of the famed 1st Marine Division. He earned 3 battle stars while seeing fierce combat during the Cape Gloucester, Peleliu and Okinawa campaigns. Bill served as a forward communication observer for light artillery during those invasions and through his trusted friend, Joe, a Navajo Indian "code talker", relayed vital information to Marine artillery positions exclusively in the Navajo language, a code the Japanese never broke. Bill was awarded two Presidential Unit Citations for heroism during the Peleliu and Okinawa engagements. After the war Bill served in China and was then called back into active duty during the Korean Conflict. He married the love of his life, Marjorie Alyce Signs on August 11, 1946. Bill was the General Manager for Schlotfeldt Olds and Cadillac in Newton, Iowa from 1946 until 1956. He located to Houston in 1956 where he was the Sales Manager and Executive Vice President of Duffy & Company Real Estate and President of First Fannin Realty. He became an Independent Real Estate Broker in 1979 and continued in the Real Estate Investment business, buying, selling, remolding and leasing homes and apartments as Bay Area Homes. He was a Life Director of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the Houston business leaders to re-establish the Houston Farm and Ranch Club, a member of the National Auto Dealers Association, and of the National, Texas and Houston Apartment Association. He was a member of The Rotary Club of Houston where he was a past president and currently a member of the Galveston Downtown Rotary Club. He served his Lord as a faithful member of the Moody Memorial First United Methodist Church of Galveston. Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marjorie Alyce Schlotfeldt of Bayou Vista; twin daughters, Deborah S. Jackson and husband, Gareth "Tug", of Long Beach, California, and Judith A. Sample and husband, Donald of Caracas, Venezuela; grandchild, Jennifer Scruggs of Caracas, Venezuela; sister, Pat Koppin and husband, Pete of Newton, Iowa; cousin, Jackie Dale Black and husband, Jim of Monterrey, California; numerous nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. Pallbearers will be, Kelvin McMain, Jim Albright, Wayne Carpenter, Eddie Janek, Ron Frost and Tom Dompier. Honorary pallbearers are Sammy Ray, Brad McMain, David McMain, Pete Ruman, Doug Grumbles, Dan Gattis, Dick Atkins and Angelo Tolentino. Memorials may be made in Bill's name to the Alzheimer's Association, 2909 W. Holcombe Blvd., Houston, Texas 77025 or to the charity of choice.
Published in Houston Chronicle on July 2, 2003 Remember Share memories or express condolences below.3 EntriesThe Guest Book is Expired Please restore the Guest Book to share in the life story for WILLIAM SCHLOTFELDT "Marjorie Alyce Schlotfeldt Deby & Judy Our Sympathy. Bud &Marge Lafrenz 2403 Wauconda Rd ..."-Bud &Marge LafrenzRestore the guest bookResources• Send Funeral Flowers • View Funeral Home Details Find Advice & Support• Funeral Etiquette • Grief Support Groups ‹ Back to today's Obituaries Protect your loved ones from worry.Begin now to set up a reliable advance funeral plan.Learn More Funeral and condolence advice from Legacy.com expertsFuneral EtiquetteExpert advice: what to do and say when someone dies. Planning Guide Planning ahead makes a big difference.