William H. Killian

OKINAWA:  Funeral service with full military honors, for E-9 William Hardin Killian, USMC (Ret), 81, of Okinawa, Japan, will be held 3 o’clock Saturday, December 9, 2006, at Shives Funeral Home, Colonial Chapel, with The Rev. Edward Harris officiating.  The family will receive friends at 2 o’clock prior to the service at the funeral home.

Mr. Killian died Thursday, December 7, 2006.  Born and raised in Chester, SC, he was a son of the late C. T. and Mary Isabel Taylor Killian.  Mr. Killian was a US Marine Corps veteran of WWII, serving in the Pacific Theater. He was also a veteran of the Korean Conflict and Vietnam. Mr. Killian served a total of 9 years with the 3^rd Marine Division and served with all divisions except the 6^th.    He retired in July 1978 as the Operation Chief of the 12^th Marines in the field house at Camp Foster. Upon retirement, after a total of 33 years of service, he received the Meritorious Medal.  Following his retirement, he entered the University of Maryland in 1980 which was interrupted when the Marine Corps Club System offered him the job of Training Officer.  This job lasted a year, so he returned to college and graduated in 1984 with a B. S. in Business Management.  He also worked for the Club System as store manager until 1993.  Mr. Killian held the following positions: Commander VFW Post #315, New Castle, PA, Commandant of Marine Corps League Det# 816, Okinawa, Quartermaster and past Commandere   of VFW Post # 11435, Commander and Quartermaster of VFW District #1 Dept. of Pacific, President of Okinawa Military Retired Assoc., a volunteer with the Navy/Marine Corps Retired Activities Office, President of 7^th AAA BN Assoc. WW II.  He was a life member of Marine Corps Assoc., the 3^rd Marine Assoc, the 7^th AAA BN Assoc,  the American Legion, Okinawa Military Assoc., the Disabled American Veterans Assoc., the Fleet Reserve Assoc., and a charter member of the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum.

Survivors include his wife Akiko Killian and her family of Okinawa, Japan; children: Frank (Libby) Killian of Danville, VA, Barbara (Robert) Mayes of Leesville, SC, Katherine (Rock) Webb of West Columbia, Bill (Hyon Son) Killian of Warner Robins, GA, Johnny Killian of Chester, SC, Bobby (Karen) Killian of Greenville, SC, Tina (Billy) Gregory of Chester, SC, and their mother, Betty Killian of Chester, SC, 9 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; siblings, Jake (Reba) Killian of Peachland, NC, Frances Montgomery of Garden City, SC, Davis (Mary Julia) Killian of Chester, SC, Bob (Pat) Killian of West Columbia.  He was preceded in death by brothers C. T. and John Killian,  and one grandchild.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Assoc.,  520 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201 or the American Diabetes Assoc, SC Division, 2711 Middleburg Dr., Columbia, SC 29204.