Francis Billiard Obituary

Francis E. Billiard, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather was born on June 16, 1917 in Girard, KS to John W. and Mary Bigliardi. He entered eternal life on October 20, 2010. He was the third of six children (John Edward; Margaret Viola, Arthur Thomas; Charles; and Kathleen) all of whom preceded him in death. He grew up during the Great Depression in Kansas and worked in farming and as a welder. It was during this time that his father changed their last name to Billiard. He eventually entered the United States Army Air Corps in August 1942. He received his commission and trained as a navigator. Francis was assigned to a squadron of B-24 Liberators and flew to England as part of the 492nd Bomb Group. He flew 17 combat missions over Germany, France and Belgium. His squadron also supported the D-Day invasion of France. On July 11, 1944 while attempting to return from a bombing mission over Munich, Germany his plane was shot down by enemy action and had to land in Davos, Switzerland where he was held captive until his release in January 1945. He returned to the United States and was separated from military service in 1945. On July 29, 1946 he married Patricia Chandler while enrolled in college at Kansas State University. He majored in engineering and graduated in 1948. After graduating from college, he worked for the Army Corps of Engineers in Kansas City, Missouri until April 1955 when he transferred to HQ Air Defense Command as one of their professional engineers. Sadly, on July 9, 1977, after almost thirty-one years of marriage, his beloved Patricia was taken from him as the result of an automobile accident in Texas. Francis was seriously injured in the same accident, but recovered and finished raising his nine children. He eventually retired in 1980. On May 23, 1981 he married Carol Owens whose children are Edward, Dennis, Kenneth and Rodger Owens and Mary Jo Butler, as well as Jeffery, David and Gery Owens, who are deceased. Carol has been and always will be a special blessing to Francis as she loved and cared for him throughout their twenty-nine years of married life. Prior to and after his retirement he was an elected board member of the Park Forest Water District and the Colorado Rural Water Association where he also served as a board member. In 2007, the Special District Association of Colorado honored Francis for more than 40 years of dedicated service to the Park Forest Water District, whose water administration building is named in his honor. Francis is survived by his wife Carol, his nine children: Francis P. Billiard (Nancy), Lawrence C. Billiard (Elaine), Patricia K. Kelly (Patrick), Fr. Donald Billiard, John W. Billiard (Judy), Paul J. Billiard (Lesley), Michael J. Billiard (Lisa), Phillip A. Billiard (Julia), and Eileen M. Stephens (McLeod); his 17 grandchildren: Daniel, Joshua, Phillip, Jason, Dian, Erin, Sean, Thomas, Tatyana, Jason, Cassandra, Christina, Amber, Anna, MaryAlice, Sarah, McLeod III and his 15 great-grandchildren: Brandon, Ethan, Alyse, Leah, Cory, Tyler, Dylan, Alexander, Mia, Kiley, Carson, Ryan, Noah, Camillia and Arianna, and a multitude of friends. A wake service and rosary will be held on Monday, October 25th, at 6:30 p.m. at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Tuesday, October 26th 2010, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of the Pines Catholic Church, 11020 Teachout Road, Black Forest, Colorado. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to Food for the Poor, 6401 Lyons Road, Coconut Creek, FL 33073, designated for the Francis E. Billiard Water Project #70304, or online at www.foodforthepoor.org/milestones (search for the project by first name), or to any other charity of the giver's choice.