Willard Raymond “Red” LaPlant

Willard Raymond LaPlant “Red,” 88, of Fredericktown, Missouri, died  Thursday, September 29, 2011, at the Stockhoff Memorial Nursing Home in Fredericktown.

He was born February 22, 1923, in Fredericktown, a son of Samuel Marion and Annie Louise (Simmons) LaPlant.

His parents, first wife, Wanda Eloise; son, Ronnie LaPlant; brothers, Floyd, Lloyd, Fred, Ed, Tony, and Ralphie; and sisters, Mamie and Lilly, preceded him in death.

In 1942 he was united  in marriage to Wanda Eloise Rogers, who preceded him in death in 1983.

He later married Wanda Lee Dennis, who survives in Fredericktown.

Mr. LaPlant is also survived by son, Dwight LaPlant of Fenton, Missouri; daughter,  Connie Talley of O’Fallon, Illinois; stepdaughters  Becky Fiandaca of Fredericktown and Victoria Kinkead of Libertyville, Missouri; brothers, Noby LaPlant and Oby LaPlant of Fredericktown; five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mr. LaPlant was a United States Army Air Corp. Veteran in World War II. He was a mining geologist for National Lead Co. in Fredericktown and Ozark Lead Co. in Ellington, Missouri.  He was a member and Past Commander of the Fredericktown VFW Post #4320, Fredericktown Masonic Lodge #110, Mac Donald’s Chapter #128 and Past Worthy Patron #128 of the Order of the Eastern Star.

He was a former two-term mayor of Fredericktown and a member of the Fredericktown First Christian Church.

Services were held October 3, 2011, at Wilson Funeral Home, with Pastor Bob Graham officiating. Burial was at Marcus Memorial Park Cemetery in Fredericktown, with full military honors under the direction of the Missouri National Guard.

Pallbearers were: Kevin LaPlant, Andrew LaPlant, Darren Goad, David Fiandaca, Eric Miller and Dennis Kinkead.

Arrangements by Wilson Funeral Home of Fredericktown, Missouri.

www.wilson-funeral-home.com