William "Billy" Edward Kilman Jr's Obituary
William Edward Kilman, Jr., known to his family and friends as Billy, met his Heavenly Father on March 18, 2025, at the age of 99 in DeRidder, Louisiana. Billy was born on July 29, 1925, in DeRidder, where he spent a lifetime devoted to his family, faith, and community. He walked closely with his Heavenly Father, finding daily strength in his relationship with Him. He lived by the words of Micah 6:8:
“He has shown you, O man, what is good: and what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?”
He is now reunited with his beloved wife of 62 years, Alice Elizabeth (Beth) Harper Kilman. He is preceded in death by his son, William Edward Kilman III; his parents, Gertrude and William Edward Kilman, Sr.; and his brother, Sammy Kilman.
Billy will be deeply missed by his daughters:
• Cathy DeWitt and husband Owen, along with their children:
John DeWitt and wife Holly, and their children, Austyn and Ella
James DeWitt and wife Emily, and their daughters, Karis, Mikaela, Rebekah, and Kadence
Anne Pankonien and husband Grant, and their children, Amelia and Greyson
• Kerry Stanton and husband Ed, along with their children:
Kelly Beck and husband Mike, and their sons, Eli, Emmett, and Easton
Trey Stanton and wife Kelsey, and their children, Summer and EJ
• Kristy Pavlas and husband Craig, and their children, Skylar and Cody
Additionally, he is survived by his daughter-in-law, Brenda Kilman, and her daughter Angela Thomas and husband David, and their children, Ethan, and Lilly.
Billy was a lifelong and the oldest member of the DeRidder First United Methodist Church, and also attended the First Baptist Church with his 100% Baptist wife, even though he was full-blooded Methodist. He graduated from DeRidder High School in 1942. At just 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on July 16, 1943, and trained in San Diego before attending Radio Operators School at Texas A&M. He graduated as a Radioman, Second Class and become a proud member of what is now known as The Greatest Generation. During World War II, Billy served aboard the USS Mt. McKinley, which was anchored in Sasebo Harbor during the surrender of Japan. His final assignment was a special mission in the mountains of La Jolla, California. He was honorably discharged on March 20, 1946.
Billy earned a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Louisiana Tech University in 1949 and later taught English and coached basketball in Stonewall, Louisiana for one year. In 1952, he began his banking career as a teller at City Savings Bank in DeRidder. That same year, after just three months of courtship, he married the love of his life, Beth. His career flourished, leading him to Leeseville in 1963, where he became Executive Vice President of Vernon Bank. In 1971, he returned to DeRidder as President at First National Bank of DeRidder, where he remained until his retirement in 1990. Billy was an active member of his community, serving in the Leeseville Rotary Club, DeRidder Lions Club, and the Louisiana Bankers Association. He also served on the Board of Directors for both First National Bank of DeRidder and Beauregard Memorial Hospital.
He and Beth loved fishing, visiting grandchildren, and traveling across Europe and the U.S (and even got lost in Yonkers!). Billy especially enjoyed mowing, painting, storytelling, and walking his white German shepherds over the years – Max, Tex, and Georgia.
He will be remembered as a pillar of the community, a kind, true, and honorable gentleman with a warm smile, a man of integrity, and most importantly, he deeply loved Jesus.
Visitation will be held on Friday, March 28, 2025, from 5:00-8:00 PM at Labby Memorial Funeral Home in DeRidder. Visitation will continue Saturday, March 29, 2025, from 1:00 PM until the service which begins at 2:00 PM at First United Methodist Church of DeRidder with Pastor Laraine Waughtal and Pastor James DeWitt officiating. Burial will follow at Beauregard Cemetery in DeRidder with Naval Military Honors.
Those honored to serve as Pallbearers are, John DeWitt, Trey Stanton, Cody Pavlas, Eli Beck, Craig Pavlas, and Mike Beck.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to;
*Samaritans Purse in memory of our father at https://www.samaritanspurse.org/memorial-page/william-edward-kilman-jr-deridder-la/ or *First Baptist Church, DeRidder, La or *First United Methodist Church, DeRidder, La
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