| Master Sergeant William (Bill) Basnett, U.S. Air Force Retired, 75, died on May 29, 2013 in Morgantown, WV.
Bill was born on June 28, 1937, in Big Bend, WV. He graduated from Calhoun High School in 1956. Bill attended the Community College of the Air Force and Miami Jacobs Junior College in Dayton, Ohio, and was also a member of the Brooksville Baptist Church.
Bill traveled extensively while serving the Air Force. He served in Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, New Jersey, Ohio (three times), Indiana, and California. Overseas he was stationed in Japan, Vietnam, Okinawa (two times), and Taiwan. Bill served on temporary duty or visited Wake Island, Iwo Jima, Korea, the Philippines, Guam, Hong Kong, Hawaii, Alaska, the Azores, Spain, Germany, Scotland, the Netherlands, Newfoundland, and Mexico. He retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1979 with over 22 years of service.
During Bill's years of service in the U.S. Air Force, he was awarded the Bronze Star (Vietnam), the Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster (two awards), and the Air Force Commendation Medal with three oak leaf clusters (four awards).
Bill was assigned to units where they were awarded the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award one with a "V" (valor) and two oak leaf clusters (four awards). He was also awarded the Air Force Good Conduct Medal (seven awards), the Air Force Longevity Service Award (five awards), the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.
After retiring, Bill was the Director of Calhoun Committee on Aging from 1983 to 1994. During his tenure he was responsible for Phase I of the Senior Citizen Center, completely remodeling, adding a third floor, and installing an elevator in the building. Upon moving to Arizona, Bill became licensed in that state as a Realtor in residential real estate in the metropolitan area of Phoenix.
He is survived by his wife Marge (Educator, Librarian, and Quilter) of Plymouth MN; his son Tim (Systems Engineer) of Indianapolis IN; his daughter Tina Kerns (Financial Analyst) and son-in-law Zach Kerns (Financial Controller) of Morgantown WV; his sisters Gloria Stevens, Carolyn Sue Arthur (Jim); and his brothers Jerry (Bessie) of Grantsville WV; Fred F. Junior (Barbara) of Ravenswood WV; and Roger of Annamoriah WV.
A memorial service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery. The date has yet to be determined.
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