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- Obituary:
LIEUT. SCHEXNYDER IS KILLED IN PLANE CRASH WEDNESDAY
Rayne and this entire community are grieved and saddened today by the death of Lieut. Roy L. Schexnyder, 23, son of Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schexnyder of Rayne, and husband of the former Miss Marilyn McBride, who was instantly killed in an airplane crash at 12:30 A. M., Wednesday morning near Blytheville, Arkansas.
Lieut. Schexnyder had flown to Lafayette and come on to Rayne for a brief visit with his parents, ityleaving the field at Lafayette to fly back to his base at Blytheville where he had been stationed. His parents were notified at 4 A. M., Wednesday that he had been instantly killed when his plane crashed on the outskirts of the field.
The remains were returned to Rayne by Southern Pacific train, at 12:50 A. M., Friday morning, and were accompanied by an officer from the field as a military escort. Members of the family and an honor guard from Arcenaux Post, American Legion, met the train Friday morning and accompanied the funeral coach to the Schexnyder home where the remains are to be held in state until the hour of the funeral.
Services will be held at 9 A. M., Saturday morning from St. Joseph Catholic Church, with Very Rev. Msgr. Hubert Lerschen officiating, and members of the Legion again serving as a guard of Honor and pall bearers. Interment will follow in the adjacent Catholic cemetery with the Gossen Funeral Home directing the arrangements.
Born on July 8, 1920, and reared in Rayne Leroy was one of the community's finest young men. He was educated in local schools, graduated from Rayne high school, and later completing a special course at the Anderson Diesel School in Los Angeles, Calif. He later returned to Rayne where he accepted a position with the Superior Oil Company. He had always been interested in flying, and took private lessons at Patterson, La. After completing this course, he later volunteered into the air corps and would have been in this service two years this coming August.
He trained in Nashville, Tenn., Montgomery, Ala., Lafayette, La., Greenwood, Miss., and at Blytheville, being sent from there to Randolph Field, San Antonio, for a special instructor's course. He was later returned to Blytheville where he has been serving as instructor, and also as squadron commander. He had gained a very fine reputation in the service and was rendering a very valuable work for his country.
On April 14, 1941, he was married to Miss Marilyn McBride of Rayne, who was with him in Arkansas, where they were making their home for the present. He is survived by his widow, his parents, Rayne, one brother, Gardner, and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schexnyder of two sisters, Mrs. Bert Sweeney and Joyce Schexnyder, all of Rayne.
To Marilyn, to Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schexnyder, to the brother and sister, and to all who are shocked and bereaved over the tragic death, Tribune expressed its sympathy from the depths of a heart which grieves with the min their untimely loss of one so precious and dear. Their loss is the nation's, also, since men of Leroy's calibre have proven themselves the very backbone of America's defensive setup, and they are unexpendable. May their sorrow be tempered with a sense of great pride in Leroy's wonderful record of service to his country. His every effort, every thought, and every action was devoted to aiding in the early and successful conclusion of the war, and he truly earned the words of praise which were inspired by the Heavenly Comforter, "well done, thou good and faithful servant." Upon sacrifices such as this are Victory built.
(Published in The Rayne-Acadian Tribune on May 5, 1944)
- Obituary:
Lt. Schexnyder Rites Held Here Saturday
Lt. Roy L. Schexnyder, 25, who was killed when his plane crashed at Blytheville, Ark., was buried here Saturday morning with impressive military honors at a Solemn Requiem Mass at St. Joseph's Catholic Church.
Very Rev. Msgr. Hubert Lerschen was celebrant of the Requiem Mass with the Rev. I. A. Martin, and Rev. P. T. Dalton, S. J., as Deacon and Sub Deacon and the St. Joseph Choir singing the Mass.
A Guard of Honor, composed of the following members of Arceneaux Post, American Legion, served at the church, and at the cemetery: J. G. Haines, Wallace Boudreaux, Howard Reed, Jos. Duclos, G. R. Babineaux, Lynn LeBlanc, Morris Henry, Jos. Sonnier, W. J. Plattsmier, and J. G. Servat.
Pallbearers included a group of six lieutenants from the U. S. Army Air Base in Lake Charles, these being Lt. E. R. Bosco, Lt. R. R. Hammock, Lt. A. G. Smith, Lt. J. H. Bornhoeft, Lt. R. E. Connelly, and Lt. Garromene.
During the services at church Msgr. Lerschen paid high tribute to Lt. Schexnyder. Military rites were observed at the cemetery and the flag was removed from the casket as it was lowered, and presented to Mrs. Schexnyder, his wife. Taps were sounded by E. C. Andrus, Jr. of Crowley.
Lt. Robert O. Ball, Jr., and Mrs. Ball and Lt. Jack Sale, both instructors from the Blytheville Army Air Base served as military escort from Blytheville to Rayne.
Lt. Schexnyder was an instructor at Blytheville, and had been home for a visit, and was returning to the base by plane when the accident occurred.
He is survived by his widow, the former Miss Marilyn McBride, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Leo Schexnyder, one brother, Gardner, and two sisters, Mrs. Bert Sweeney and Joyce Schexnyder.
(Published in The Rayne Acadian-Tribune on May 12, 1944)
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1920 - 1944 (23 years)
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