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View a eulogy for William Edgar Slavins, USMA '50, who passed away on November 25, 2021.

William Edgar Slavins

West Point, 1950

Be Thou At Peace

Posted by Meredith Lynn Slavins on May 12, 2022:

Bill Slavins died on Thanksgiving Day 2021 at the age of 94. What an appropriate day for him to go home to the Lord!

He was so thankful for all the blessings that he had in his life. He had great parents and grandparents who taught and raised him up in the ways of the Lord. He had a wonderful sister, Frances whom he adored. He made it through his studies at West Point. Bill was married to his first wife Lois wife for 61 yrs. She supported him and made many sacrifices on his behalf as a military wife. She also gave him 2 wonderful children. Bill is survived by his daughter Patsy Schutzendorf and son-in-law David Halliburton and their children Eric and his wife Penny Schutzendorf and Katherine Halliburton. Bill is survived by his son Bill and daughter-in-law Laura and their children Jessica and her husband Jim Connolly and John and his wife Adrienne Slavins. Bill was blessed with 5 wonderful great grandchildren: Eric, Olivia and Mary, and Samuel and James. Bill is also survived by nieces Jane and her husband Cooper McMillan and their sons Joshua and Samuel and his wife Colleen; and, Sally and her husband Mark Judd; and by his nephew Tom and his wife Nancy Welch and their children: Jana, Jonathan, and Stephen.

Bill knew how blessed he was to be an American. He pledged his allegiance to our flag and constitution countless times throughout his life. He devoted his life serving America and its people with a sustaining sense of love, loyalty, and dignity. He believed he was given a second chance at life when he survived a near fatal wound while commanding a combat unit on T-Bone Hill during the Korean War. Several years ago, he had a memorial stone made for the 19 men he lost in that assault. Later he learned that an additional 11 men died from their wounds. Bill mourned those deaths his entire life. He found solace in building sustaining friendships in the churches and military groups he attended. Those included the St. Paul UMC, Seminole UMC, Military Officers of America Association and especially the Korean War Veterans Association, Sunshine State Chapter.

Bill�s favorite hymn was "Help Somebody Today" and it was exemplified in his endeavors of everyday life. Some highlights of these endeavors were spending 30 years at Boca Raton and Largo High Schools tutoring math; being a Stephen Minister in support of people who were in crisis and needing help; and, making over 800 oak crosses. He gave these crosses out to people across all walks of life. His message was Jesus loves us all!

I believe that Bill was grateful for the Lord�s salvation but more importantly he was grateful for His love, mercy and the forgiveness of his sins. These traits were ingrained in Bill and he was able to pass them on to anyone who needed a shoulder to cry on or a hand to help lift themselves up; all without judgement or ridicule. For the rest of us, he always had a bright friendly smile.

I am Bill�s second wife, Meredith. We were married 9 ½ years. I will always love and miss him! I don�t want you to believe that Bill was perfect because we all know he wasn�t... in fact, he was a terrible back seat driver!

Meredith Slavins, April 17, 2022

 
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