My father served in the U.S. Coast Guard with Billy aboard the U.S. Army supply ship FS-397, which was all-CG-crewed as it plied the backwaters of the WWII Pacific Theater.  He just called me from Louisville, KY, where he resides in the Episcopal Church Home from a debilitating stroke he had over four years ago.  He was trying to reach Billy without success.  I did a quick online search through the Houston Chronicle and discovered Billy's obituary & the connection to Forest Park Westheimer.  It was very sad to tell him what I had found.  My Dad was the ship's communications officer, a Radioman 2nd Class, and he never forgot his Ship's Cook 1st Class, Billy Lake.  They almost shared a birthday, as my Dad's was July 9, 1925, two years Billy's junior, but they never forgot each other after the war.  They reconnected several times through the years since their discharges and I recall some great reminisces between them.  Once, during the summer of 1974, Billy was traveling through Louisville on business and looked my Dad up, giving him a call.  At that point, they had not seen each other since the war, so Billy started off saying he was trying to locate Charlie Polk from the Coast Guard.  Well, I was in the Coast Guard Reserve myself from 1969-2011, and Dad said, "you must be looking for my son."  He said, no, it was the WWII/FS-397 Charlie Polk he sought.  Billy had not yet announced his name, and my Dad, on just hearing Billy's voice, said, "you were my Ship's Cook!  Billy Lake!"  Billy's voice had clearly transcended the decades in an instant!  After all, my Dad was a highly-trained radioman!  Well, Billy stopped by the house that Sunday afternoon and they enjoyed their first face-to-face contact since 1946!  Dad even called me up and I came by to meet Billy as well.  Wow, what a day!  Since my Mom's passing in 2001, Dad and Billy had many a good phone call, especially after Vivian's passing.  Coast Guard buddies for life, they shored each other up every time.  Suffice it to say my Dad was very sad to hear of his old pal's passing, and knows he will see his friend again when it comes his turn to enter eternal life.  God Bless all of Billy's surviving family and friends!  --Chuck Polk, Captain, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (Retired)

I shall miss you, dear Friend!  I am grateful for your friendship and happy that you are "home".  Thanks for being Mr. Good Grief and reaching out to help folks recover from the loss of a loved one.  God Bless!
Verna Noack Hoke

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Billy Lake

July 10, 1923 – April 17, 2012

Forest Park Westheimer Funeral Home & Cemetery

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