William "Bill" Phillip Daigle Jr.

William “Bill” Phillip Daigle, Jr., born September 5, 1922, in Good Hope, Louisiana, passed away September 28, 2015, after a long, amazing, fulfilled life as a devoted and loving son, brother, husband, father, uncle, and grandfather.

Bill grew up in New Orleans and moved to Galveston to work at Todd Shipyards after graduating from Jefferson High School. He enlisted in the United States Coast Guard on August 26, 1942. Bill was a World War II veteran. He served 19 months in the Pacific aboard a Coast Guard-manned invasion supply ship. He saw action at Bougainville, Guadalcanal, Emirau, Munda, and Guam. He was honorably discharged from the Coast Guard on November 27, 1945. Bill married Betty June Earl on July 11, 1945, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. They celebrated their 65th anniversary with a mass at Sacred Heart Church on July 11, 2010. He was devoted to and cared for Betty during her illness. Bill worked for the United States National Bank and retired from the United States Postal Service. He was active in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Knights of Columbus, the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, and Sacred Heart Church. He was instrumental in the formation of the Galveston Lassie League and was a past president of this girls’ softball league. Bill enjoyed trips to New Orleans, California, South Dakota, Tennessee, Missouri, Florida, Europe, and all family vacations with his children, grandchildren, sister, and sister-in-law. Most recently, on April 18, 2015, he made a trip to Washington, D.C., courtesy of Honor Flight Houston.

Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Aline and William Phillip Daigle, Sr.; wife, Betty Earl Daigle; brother, Harold Daigle; brothers-in-law, Alvie “Bubby” Earl, Jack Wilson, and Eugene Parker.

Bill is survived by his son, Billy, and daughter-in-law, Mary Ann; daughter, Cheri; grandson, Jonathan, and wife, Holly; granddaughter, Amanda; sisters, Maidee Rodriguez, Aline Wilson, Mercedes Stevens and husband, Charles; sisters-in-law, Katherine Parker and Valerie Daigle; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

Bill’s family will receive visitors beginning at 5:00 pm, Thursday, October 1st, at Malloy & Son Funeral Home. A rosary and vigil service will begin at 6:30 pm, led by Deacon John Pistone.

Funeral Mass will be 10:00 am, Friday, October 2nd, at Sacred Heart Church in Galveston, Texas, with Father Richard Goodin, OFM, as Celebrant and Deacon Wil Toups assisting. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery.

Pallbearers are Jonathan Daigle, Charlie Stevens, Chris Daigle, Jim Rogers, Bobby Wilson, and Jesse Urquiaga.

If desired, donations in Bill’s name may be sent to Honor Flight Houston, PO Box 690545, Houston, TX, 77269, or to the American Heart Association, PO Box 841125, Dallas, TX, 75284-1125.