Billy Allen Himes

Billy Allen Himes
May 30, 1923 – January 5, 2014

Billy Allen Himes was born in Kittanning, Pennsylvania on May 30, 1923 to Raleigh and Orpha Himes. After working as a machinist apprentice, Billy joined the war effort in 1943. His brothers Don and Paul were also in the armed forces. Staff Sergeant Himes was part of major allied offensives in Southern France and Rhineland Germany in 1943-1945. Billy received a purple heart with an oak leaf cluster for services and wounds received during the war, particularly as he fought with allied forces crossing the Roer River and advancing into the heart of Germany in February 1945. He was honorably discharged on September 22, 1945.

After the war Billy met and married the love of his life, Peggy May Appler. Peggy was a nurse in the Nurse Cadet Corps and hailed from Hanover, PA. After a courtship in Pennsylvania, Billy and Peggy were married in Chicago on September 24, 1949. They enjoyed a very close and loving marriage for over 64 years. They lived in Illinois, Kentucky, Texas, Indiana and Colorado. Billy worked for decades to improve the lives of America's workers as a manager and then vice president of the Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Worker's Union. Peggy continued nursing, and together they raised five children. Billy retired in the 1980s to devote time to his family and extraordinary garden. Billy and Peggy were residents of Sedalia for over 30 years and very much enjoyed Colorado living. He and Peggy loved watching the sunset over the foothills, playing bridge, and fishing in the Platte River.

Billy is survived by his wife, five children, loving in-laws, and fourteen grandchildren: Dirk (and Mary), Alex and Drew Himes; Ross (and Marcia) Paige, Corey and Chelsea Himes; Craig, Doug, and Evan Himes; Laura (and Paul), Peter, Emily and Elizabeth Iversen; and Margaret (and Scott), Matthew, Gretchen, Dylan and Jennifer Gomer.

Billy had many devoted, life-long friends and was a loyal friend and great conversationalist. He believed strongly in the value of family, education, travel, great ideas, home-grown vegetables, and good food. He was an excellent gardener and cook who appreciated foods from all across the world.

Most of all, however, Billy loved Peggy and wanted the best for her. He was a devoted husband who, throughout a long illness, was primarily concerned that Peggy would be happy and his children and grandchildren would be well. He was also very grateful for the many wonderful friends and acquaintances in his life, from Kittanning, to other states, to Sedalia, Windcrest and Sunrise.

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