William "Shorty" Diehl

William "Shorty" Diehl, 91, of Mexico, died at 10:15 p.m., Sunday, June 22, 2014, at Audrain Medical Center.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, June 26, 2014, at Pickering Funeral Home with Rev. Randy Jones officiating. Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until the time of service. Burial will be in the Elmwood Cemetery in Mexico.

William was born May 25, 1923, in Fulton, Mo., a son of Henry and Eda (Lamers) Diehl.

On January 12, 1954, he married Lucille Delores Paschal Lewis, who preceded him in death on May 12, 1997.

He served during World War II in the U.S. Army from 1942 - 1946. He worked as a press changer at A.P. Green Refractories and retired in 1985 with over 33 years of service.

William was an avid sports fan for Missouri teams; he enjoyed fishing, feeding squirrels, bowling, and cracking hickory nuts.

Survivors include three sons, Ron Diehl and wife Kathy of Kirksey, Ky., Jack Diehl and wife Eileen of Olympia, Wash., Billie Lewis and wife Susan of Mexico; three daughters, Nancy (Lewis) Saulnier of Mexico, Diane (Diehl) Willer and husband Jim of Mexico, Bonnie (Diehl) York and husband Larry of Fillmore, N.Y.; two sisters, Edith Craighead and husband Gene of Fulton, and Mary Bess of Tex.; 27 grandchildren; 49 great-grandchildren and six great-great grandchildren.

In addition to his wife and parents he was preceded in death by four brothers; three sisters; one daughter, Bonnie Mae (Lewis) Bird; and one son, Curtis Lewis.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Missouri Veterans Home Auxiliary Fund. They may be sent in care of Pickering Funeral Home, 403 N. Western, Mexico, MO 65265.