William Lefabvre, Sr., 92, Pearl Harbor Survivor

William R. Lefabvre, Sr., 92 longtime resident of Merrimack died Sunday Oct. 14, 2012 at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, NH after a period of declining health.

He was born in Manchester, NH on July 27, 1920 a son of the late William J. and Arlene (Brown) Lefabvre.

Bill attended Straw elementary School, and graduated in 1940 from Manchester Central High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on Aug. 30 1940.

Mr. Lefabvre was one of only a few survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was on the USS West Virginia BB48, which was sunk on that day. Three days later he was transferred to the U.S.S San Francisco CA38 for the duration of W.W. II. He was involved with 17 of the major battles of the Asiatic Pacific Theater. From his service during WWII, he was recipient of Presidential Unit Citation 1 Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal, American Defense Medal with 1 Bronze Star, American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Theatre Medal 17 Stars, Philippines Liberation Medal 1 Bronze Star, Navy Occupation Service Medal with Asia clasp, Pearl Harbor Commemorative Medal, and also was the Chairman of State of NH Pearl Harbor Survivor Assoc Chapter 1. Mr. Lefabvre also served in the Korean War on the USS Roan (DD853) and received the following metals, the Korean War and the China Service Medal.

He will be remembered as a Patriot, devoted husband and endearing father and grandfather.

Bill is pre-deceased by a brother in-law, Walter Petriw.

Members of his family include his wife of 68 years, Zonia (Petriw) Lefabvre, a son William R. Lefabvre, Jr. and his wife Sharon, a daughter Donna (Lefabvre) Meehan and her husband Warren, a granddaughter Lisa (Meehan) Nagle and her husband Philip, two grandsons Michael Meehan and Adam Lefabvre, and two great-grandchildren Taylor and Ryan Nagle, a Sister-In-Law Lorette Petriw.

There are no calling hours. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated in Our Lady of Mercy Church, 16 Baboosic Lake Road, Merrimack Wednesday Oct. 17, 2012 at 9:30 AM. Burial will be in the NH Veterans Cemetery, Boscawen.