Mr. William P. “Bill" Brayton, 90, of Morris, Ill., passed away peacefully Sunday morning, Nov. 4, 2012, in the Illinois Veterans Home in La Salle, Ill., where he had resided for the past year.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8, at U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris, where funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Friday Nov. 9, with the Rev. Deborah Percell of the First United Methodist Church officiating.
Interment with full military honors conducted by the Morris Color Guard will follow in Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Ill.
Born June 26, 1922, in Morris, the son of Harry and Eda Davis Brayton, he was educated in the Morris schools and graduated from Morris High School with the Class of 1940.
Bill enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Nov. 5, 1940, and proudly served his country in World War II, serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations. He received his honorable discharge on Dec. 3, 1946. He re-enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Jan. 19, 1951, and served during the Korean Conflict, receiving his honorable discharge on March 18, 1952.
Bill married the love of his life, Marlene R. Williams, on Sept. 9, 1961, in the First United Methodist Church in Morris.
He was employed with Federal Paper Board Company for over 30 years and entered retirement upon the paper mill’s closing. For several years, he was a member of the staff at U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home.
Mr. Brayton loved the game of golf, and was a season ticket holder and an avid sports fan of the Morris Redskins football and basketball teams. He enjoyed spending time visiting with his many friends and family, especially his seven grandchildren.
He was a member of the First United Methodist Church, John Martin Steele Post #6049 V.F.W. and Morris American Legion Post # 294.
Surviving are his loving children, Dana, and her husband, David Wilson, of St. Charles, Ill., and Daryk and his wife, Kathy Brayton, of La Salle; seven grandchildren, Jaryd, Brendan, Logan and Joren Wilson, and Hailee, Mercedes and Sean Brayton; along with many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife, on Feb. 15, 2012; and three brothers.
Preferred form of remembrance would be memorial gifts in Bill’s memory directed to Grundy Community Hospice.
Condolences can be extended online to his family at www.ucdavisandsons.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home, Morris. For additional information, call the funeral home at (815) 942-0084.
