Mr Bill Shepard
BILL Shepard died last Saturday, at the age of 93, just two days after celebrating his 71st wedding anniversary.
Mr Shepard was christened Ivor Norman Shepard but his Uncle George did not like his Christian names and called him Bill. The name stuck ever since.
Mr Shepard was born in Newport and attended Newport Grammar School before training to be an optician.
He was called up by the army on completion of his training. He married his wife, Ruth, in October 1941, during his embarkation leave.
He served in India and Burma and was badly injured by a land mine in 1945.
Mr Shepard went to work for Bateman’s Opticians in Newport after the war and subsequently became the manager of the Shanklin branch until he retired at the age of 70.
Mr Shepard, who lived at Hungerberry Close, Shanklin, joined Shanklin Rotary in 1954 and was the club’s longest serving member.
He held the post of president and became a Paul Harris Fellow in recognition of his loyal service to the club and the community.
Mr Shepard also enjoyed painting and gardening.
He his wife, daughter Angela, son Anthony, granddaughters Emma, Lisa and Sian and three great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at the IW Crematorium next Wednesday, at noon.