ODNEAL BILLY L

COL Billy L. Odneal was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 11/07/2006 at the age of 81.0 from Fibrosis
Bozeman, MT
Date of Birth 11/15/1925
Served in the U.S. Army
Served in Vietnam with MACV in 62, 159 ASHB 101 ABN in 68
This information was provided by Obituary

More detail on this person: BOZEMAN - Billy Lee Odneal, 80, a decorated military veteran, died of pulmonary fibrosis Monday at Fort Harrison Veterans Hospital. A memorial service is 10 a.m. Friday at Dokken-Nelson Sunset Chapel, followed by a reception at Riverside Country Club. Burial with military honors will take place in Fort Harrison at a later date. Dokken-Nelson Funeral Home of Bozeman is in charge of arrangements.

Bill is survived by his wife of 57 years, Evelyn; his children, Ann of Bozeman, Holly (Steve) O'Toole of Sidney, Katherine of Palmer, Alaska, and Mary Lee (Dana) Schmidt of Lancaster, Pa.; his cherished grandchildren, Mark and Erin O'Toole, Joshua Shurman, Daniel Faught, Lindsey and Dillon Schmidt and Ben, Devon and Ryan Conroy; cherished family, Larry Shurman, David Conroy, Sam Ortega and Lee LaRue; sister-in-law Shirley Wiedenmeyer; and nieces Wendy Wiedenmeyer, Connie (Tom) Kammerman and Shelley (Bill) Baker.

Billy died Nov. 6, 2006, with members of his family at his side.

Billy was born Nov. 15, 1925, in Los Angeles, Calif., to Frances (Thompson) and Horace Odneal. He moved to Great Falls, where he graduated from Great Falls High School. After serving in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he returned to complete a degree in applied science from Montana State College. While at Montana State, he was co-captain of the 1946 fighting Bobcat championship football team, which in 1993 was inducted into the MSU Hall of Fame. Billy married his soul mate, Evelyn Harrison, on Aug. 15, 1949. He graduated from Montana State College on June 1, 1950, and was inducted into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant, receiving the William Galt Memorial Medal. While serving in Korea, Billy and Evelyn's first daughter, Ann, was born. Daughters Holly, Katherine and Mary Lee soon followed.

His distinguished military career included service in three theaters, World War II, Korea and Vietnam, where he served as the commanding officer of the 159th Assault Helicopter battalion, a part of the 101st Airborne Division. Billy's numerous citations and decorations included the Legion of Merit, Distinguished Flying Cross with bronze cluster, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters and the Army Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters. Billy was a lifetime member of the U.S. Army Aviation Test Board and holds the world speed record in a UH-ID Huey helicopter. As a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots (SETP) a highlight of his career came in 1978, when he was a guest speaker at their annual convention in Brussels, Belgium. Billy retired in 1979, and he and Evelyn returned to Bozeman, where he received a degree in accounting from MSU, and pursued his lifelong passion, golf.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jack; and brother-in-law Al Wiedenmeyer.

Memorials may be made to the Disabled American Veterans, 1900 Williams St., Helena, MT 59601; or to a charity of the donor's choice.

Condolences may be sent online to greatfallstribune.com/obituaries.

Published in the Great Falls Tribune on 11/8/2006.

This information was last updated 05/18/2016

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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


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