News

December 7, 2009 - We received the news today that Brother William Lovell De La Mater passed away on December 3, 2009. Below is the message announcing his passing.

Dear Beloved Friends:

It is with great sadness that I must write to inform you that Billy "D", 84 years old,
passed away yesterday, December 3, 2009, at the San Fernando Hospital  in Panama City.

Billy "D"was born in Colon, Republic of Panama, on 04 January 1925, in the Samaritan
Hospital.

He graduated from Balboa High School "BHS" in 1942.  He graduated from CZJC in 1948 with
an AA Degree and Denver University in 1950 with an Engineering Degree.

Bill worked for the Panama Canal Company/Commission, the USA Corps of Engineers and
Signal Corps in the Canal Zone.  His major positions with the PCC were in the Engineering
and Construction Bureau, Executive Planning Staff and the Office of the Governor (CZG) /
President (PCC) and the Office of the Administrator of the PC Commission.  He retired in
1982 while he was on the Administrator's Staff of the PCC, with 35 years of dedicated
Service.

Bill served in the USMC with the First Marine Division in the South Pacific, Okinawa and
North China and was awarded the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star and other medals.  He was
commissioned a 2nd Lt. in the USAFR in 1951 and retired as a Lt. Colonel.

Bill was an avid sportsman and was instrumental in initiating the game of softball into
the Canal Zone.  The Pacific Softball League Park in Balboa, Republic of Panama, was
named  "The William L. De La Mater Park"in 1996 in his honor and dedication.

Bill will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Funeral arrangements will be planned.

Thelma

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