Francis William Xavier MacDonald, Jr.
January 2, 1944 — October 16, 2012
Sergeant Major Francis William Xavier (Bill) MacDonald, Jr., resident of the Arlington Community, Decorated United States Army Veteran and husband of Mary Elizabeth MacDonald died Tuesday afternoon, October 16, 2012 at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Memphis where he had been a patient for two days. He was 68 years of age and died following an illness of three years.
A Funeral Mass for Mr. MacDonald was conducted at 11 A.M. Monday, October 22nd at the St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville with Father Stephen Kenny of the church officiating. Interment with Full Military Honors followed in the West Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery at Germantown. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes and Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.
Mr. MacDonald was born January 2, 1944 in Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Ethel MacDonald Holliman and the late Francis W. MacDonald, Sr. He was a graduate of John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR. He was a highly decorated 24-year US Army veteran who served in all phases of the Vietnam War.
He was married January 3, 1996 to the former Mary Elizabeth Powers, a native of Greenville, Mississippi, who survives. Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald had been residents of the Arlington Community for the past 12 years and were active members of the St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church in Somerville.
In addition to his wife, Mr. MacDonald is survived by two daughters, Jennifer Van-Alstine, Jacqueline MacDonald; his son, David MacDonald; and his mother, Ethel MacDonald Holliman.
The family requests that memorials be directed to the St. Vincent de Paul Society Soup Kitchen, Attention: Gloria Hyden, 3522 Carnes, Memphis, TN 38111.