Cover photo for Wilfred "Will" Hellmers Charbonnet's Obituary
Wilfred "Will" Hellmers Charbonnet Profile Photo

Wilfred "Will" Hellmers Charbonnet

d. August 22, 2014

Wilfred "Will" Hellmers Charbonnet

Wilfred “Will” Hellmers Charbonnet, age 95 years old, of Ocean Springs, Mississippi, passed away at home on 22 August 2014, due to natural causes. He was the second child to the late Wilfred James & Louise Antoinette (Hellmers) Charbonnet born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 22 December 1918. He was preceded in death by his sister, Louise Hellmers Skiff, his brothers, Killian Loew Charbonnet and Carl David Charbonnet, and is survived by his sister, Dr. Grace Henrietta Moulton. At Tulane University, Will earned a degree in Chemical Engineering, and in May 1941, he proudly received a commission in the U.S. Navy as an Ensign. His first assignment was a watch in the Gulf looking for submarines. Then he served as engineering officer on the destroyer escorts that protected U.S. troops and supply ships in both the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans. His ship, the DE 302, served as an Occupation Force in the Sea of Japan and kept order until the Peace Treaty was signed, at which point the ship began its long trip home to San Francisco, retiring from the Navy in 1962 as a Lieutenant Commander. As a civilian, Will worked at GE in Cleveland developing electro-luminescence. Later he worked at Chrysler Space Division in New Orleans on the Apollo program. Then, for the State of Louisiana, he headed the Air Quality Control Division until he retired. In retirement, he volunteered for the SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) Association for another 20 years. He attended the Evangelical Reform Church in New Orleans while growing up; when he and his family moved in 1970 they joined the First Presbyterian Church of Ocean Springs. While in the Navy, Will was sent to Cleveland, Ohio, to study diesel engines. There he met Jacquelyn Richner, whom he married in Boston on 7 June 1943, before shipping out. Wilfred and Jackie have enjoyed 71 years together, and from their blessed union they have the following children: Michael (& Laura) Charbonnet of New Orleans, Gregg Charbonnet of Memphis, Clark (& Lisa) Charbonnet of Austin, and Derrick Charbonnet (& Norma Herrington) of Ocean Springs. Additionally they have 9 grandchildren, and 4 great-grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Saturday, 6 September 2014, from 1 PM to 3 PM with services following at the First Presbyterian Church, 921 Ocean Ave, Ocean Springs, MS 39564. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Private Duty Nursing and Hospice of Light for all their tender care during Will's illness. The Ocean Springs Chapel of Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
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Past Services

Visitation

Saturday, September 6, 2014

1:00 - 3:00 pm

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

Service

Saturday, September 6, 2014

Starts at 3:00 pm

Bradford-O'Keefe Funeral Home - Gulfport

59 Wayside Rd, Stuart, VA 24171

Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text. Standard text messaging rates apply.

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