William R. 'bill' Luce

William Raymond ""Bill"" Luce, of Longmont, Colorado, died Thursday, August 31, 2006 at the HospiceCare Center in Louisville, Colorado. He was 82 years old.Bill was born in Stratford, Connecticut on February 16, 1924 to Raymond William and Mildred (Ringe) Luce. One month after graduating from high school in 1942, Bill joined the United States Army. He served in the 803rd tank destroyer battalion and fought in five of WWII?s major battles and theatres: Normandy, North France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe.After dating all throughout high school, Bill married Ruth Bailie in Elkton, Maryland on February 27, 1943. They had celebrated 63 years of marriage this past February. The couple made their home and raised their family in Stratford until moving to Berthoud, Colorado in 1974, and to Longmont in 2000.Mr. Luce was a service technician and longtime employee of Sears-Roebuck Company, both in Connecticut and Colorado. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Luce of Longmont; a son, Craig Luce and his wife, Claire, of Oxford, Connecticut; a daughter, Sharon Abernathy of Longmont; and five grandchildren, Brother Columba McNeill of St. Benedict Abbey in Atchison, Kansas; Kimberly Schuler and her husband, Paul, of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, Brian McNeill and his wife, Denise, of Atlanta, Georgia, Michael Luce of Naugatuck, Connecticut, and Jason Luce and his wife, Joanne, of St. Petersburg, Florida. Seven great grandchildren and a step-great granddaughter also survive him.Mr. Luce was preceded in death by his parents, and by a daughter, Susan Luce, who passed away in January 2006.A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at Howe Mortuary, 439 Coffman St., Longmont, CO 80501. Chaplain T. R. Sheforgen of HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties will officiate.In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to HospiceCare of Boulder and Broomfield Counties, 2594 Trailridge Drive East, Suite A, Lafayette, CO 80026.