Bill Leftwich

Willard “Bill” Ignatius Leftwich, a long-standing resident of Berwick, passed away peacefully Friday, March 6, 2009, at the age of 93, with his wife and daughter at his bedside. He was the youngest son of Albert Joel Leftwich and Josephine Donatile Leonard Leftwich. Bill was a parishioner of Saint Stephen Catholic Church. He was also a member of the Berwick Volunteer Fire Department since 1938. He served as fire chief for one year and served as assistant chief for years under V.J. Bella and the late Ray Rasberry, two very special friends. He was an extraordinary mechanic and loved his trade. As a teenager he began working with his brother-in-law, Bernie Driskill, at Driskill Motor Co., and continued to work there for almost 50 years, eventually acquiring the business until his retirement in 1978. After retiring, he continued to tinker on just about anything that had a motor on it. Bill loved working in his yard, especially tending to his vegetable garden and fruit trees. Reading western books and watching western movies on television were some of his favorite pastimes. He was a real jokester, always with a twinkle in his eye. More than anything, Bill loved to be with his family and spoil his grandchildren. He and his wife would have celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary next month. He will truly be missed. He is survived by his loving wife, Margie Delaune Leftwich; one son, Willard “Billy” Leftwich Jr.; two daughters, Linda Bracamontes Blakeman and her husband, David, and Kathy Leftwich Taylor; 13 grandchildren, Doug Leftwich, Dale Leftwich, Penney Van-Den-Burg, JoAnn Willis, Chad Bracamontes, Ronnie Bracamontes, Patrick Landry, Pam Autin, Dwight Landry, Mitsy McGraw, Shawn Taylor, Ragen Rice and Kaylin Taylor; several great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; an “adopted” daughter, Patsy Thomas; and many special nieces and nephews. He also had many special friends and neighbors on Toups Street in Berwick. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, “Nick,” George, “Buster” and Clyde Leftwich; six sisters, Grace Bourgeois, Lillian Romain, Beulah Driskill, Ouida Boudreaux, Myrtle Bergeron and “Pat” Bourg (his twin sister); one son, Johnny Bracamontes; and one daughter-in-law, Joan Leftwich. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 10, 2009, at 8 a.m. until funeral services at 10 a.m. at Saint Stephen Catholic Church in Berwick with the Rev. Emmanuel Fernandez officiating. Interment will follow in the Berwick Mausoleum. Memorial gifts may be made to the Berwick Volunteer Fire Department in Bill’s memory.