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William “Bill”Goldman, formerly of LaPlace, passed away May 17, 2020 in Texarkana, Texas. He was 93 years old. He was born on August 2, 1926, in Texarkana, Texas. He lived in and around the Ark-La-Tex area but spent most of his childhood in Shreveport. In 1944, he enlisted at the age of 17 in the Army, during WWII. He became a paratrooper with the 11^th Airborne, 187^th Regiment, where he saw action in the Philippines and Okinawa. He was in the first wave to drop into Okinawa and helped raise the American Flag at Atsugi Air Field. He stayed in Japan with the occupational forces until 1946. He returned to Shreveport and was employed by Caterpillar Tractor Company. Later, he recalled to active service under the Air Force during the Korean War. He ended his military service in 1953. Bill married in 1953 to Alice Logue and had four children, Deborah Goldman (Shreveport), Carl Goldman (Laplace), Donna G. Conran (LaPlace) and Denise Goldman (Austin, TX). The family moved to LaPlace after Caterpillar transferred Bill to Harahan. Bill was very active with the Lasseigne Memorial Methodist Church as a youth minister and on the Church Board. He became the Youth Saints and Sinners Choir Bus Driver, which during the summers, the choir travelled across the Southern States singing and ministering to Methodist youth groups. Bill said that those years with the youth were his most memorable times, and although the bus was hot and full of teenagers, he wouldn’t trade one day for all the days he had with them. Bill was also active in local politics and became a Peace Officer for a short time.

In 1979, Bill remarried to Sharon Bachman and with her two children; he expanded his family to include Michael and Deborah Billings. In 1983, Bill retired from Caterpillar after 33 ½ yrs and promptly moved to Hope, Arkansas to live the country life. He became involved with the American Legions posts and with his Church, Springhill Christian Church. Mr. Bill, as he was called by friends and family, loved gardening, wood working and his hummingbirds. He spent many a time sitting on his porch watching nature and visiting all that came to stay. He became an artist and painted several items throughout the years. He was known for his love of Santa Clauses and painted Santa on dried gourds, rocks, wood planks, dried okra, flower pots and shells. Bill leaves to cherish his memory with his wife of 41 years, Sharon, children, Debbie, Carl, Donna, Denise, Deborah Ann and Michael, along with his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and friends. A family memorial will be held in August to celebrate his wonderful life.  Condolences can be left at Herndon-Fuqua Funeral Home, Hope, Arkansas.