Wilmont C. “Bill” Grodi

Funeral services for Wilmont C. “Bill” Grodi, 89, Lawrence, will be at 3:30 p.m. Thursday at Lawrence Wesleyan Church. Military honors will follow, provided by the American Legion Dorsey-Liberty Post No. 14. Interment will be in Denver.Mr. Grodi died Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.He was born Aug. 27, 1918, in Toledo, Ohio, the son of Clarence and Clara Hoffman Grodi.Mr. Grodi attended the University of Toledo.He was a U.S. Air Force veteran, serving as a captain in the 8th U.S. Air Force’s 385th Bomb Group, where he piloted B-17 bombers during World War II. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, as well as other medals and campaign ribbons.After his military service, Mr. Grodi was a commercial loan officer at Security Pacific Bank. He later presided over his own commercial and residential appraisal business.Mr. Grodi was a member of Corpus Christi Catholic Church, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, the 8th Air Force Historical Society and the Air Force Escape and Evasion Society.He married Barbara McCandless on Aug. 7, 1946, in Denver. She survives, of the home.Survivors include a daughter, Cheri Woolsey and husband Tom, Lawrence; and two grandchildren, Ashley and Cole Woolsey.A son, Scott, preceded Mr. Grodi in death in June 1976.The family will greet friends from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Warren-McElwain Mortuary.The family suggests memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, sent in care of the mortuary.Online condolences may be sent at www.warrenmcelwain.com, subject: Grodi.