LCDR William Rufus Bailey Jr.

A native of Livonia and resident of Baton Rouge, he passed away Monday, July 19, 2010, at age 87. A loving husband, father and grandfather, he was a retired Navy aviator and a pilot with the state of Louisiana. Visitation will be held at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., on Thursday, July 22, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and continuing at the funeral home Friday, July 23, from 10 a.m. until time of services at noon. Interment will follow in Greenoaks Memorial Park. William is survived by his wife of 65 years, Nelrose M. Bailey; two daughters, Anne Bailey Berman and husband Roger, and Amy Bailey Lopez-Ona and husband Eugene; two sons, William R. Bailey III and Robert M. Bailey; sister, Jewell Mae Varnado and husband James; six grandchildren, Samuel and Leland Berman, Eugene and Brian Lopez-Ona, and James and Elizabeth Bailey, and his trust worthy four-legged friend, Rufus. He was preceded in death by his father, William R. Bailey Sr.; mother, Sydney Wilmot; and brother, Kenneth Bailey. Pallbearers will be five grandsons and nephew, Ronald McLaughlin. William was a Mason with the Fordoche Lodge, a member of the Mayflower Society, Louisiana Genealogy Society, Retired Officers Association, Silver Eagle Association and University Baptist Church.