Country music singer

SHREVEPORT – Services for country music singer Claude King will be Wednesday. He died March 7 at age 90.

He wrote and recorded a number of songs during his career, the most recognized being “Wolverton Mountain”, which reached No. 1 on the charges in 1962. He, Buddy Attaway and Tillman Franks formed a band called the Rainbow Boys.

King was a US Navy veteran of World War II and a member of the Louisiana Country Music Hall of Fame.

Survivors include his wife Barbara and two sons.

Arrangements are by Centuries Memorial.

Former fighter pilot, lumber executive

BATON ROUGE – Services for former US Navy fighter pilot and lumber company executive St. Clair Bienvenu, Sr. will be Wednesday. He died March 8 at age 90.

He was a F6F Hellcat pilot during World War II whose missions included the Battle of the Marianas Islands (Marianas Turkey Shoot), Marshall Islands, New Guinea, Truk and the Phiippine Islands, during which his plane was shot down.

He retired as president of Baton Rouge Lumber Co., once the largest such enterprise in Louisiana.

He was involved in number of professional and civic organizations and served as treasurer and president of the U.S.S. Kidd Commission and the U.S.S. Kidd Foundation.

Survivors include his wife Martha and six children.

Arrangements are by Rabenhorst.

Pearl Harbor vet, long-time LSU professor

BATON ROUGE – Services for Pearl Harbor veteran and long-time petroleum engineering professor at LSU Murray Hawkins, Jr. will be held at a later date. He died March 7 at age 95.

He was on duty with the US Navy in Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. After the war, he joined LSU and was a professor as well as director of the LSU Geology Camp in Colorado for many years. He was head of the Petroleum Engineering Department for 12 years and played a significant role in its development into one of the leading such departments in the world.

He was co-author of Applied Petroleum Reservoir Engineering, the industry standard textbook still in use 50 years after its initial publication.

Survivors include his wife Julia, who in married via telephone, him in Pearl Harbor and she in Ponchatoula, shortly after the Japanese attack, two sons and two daughters.

Former colonel, Cajun dancer

WEST MONROE – Services for retired colonel and former commander of the US Army garrison on Okinawa Billy Keyes will be Tuesday. He died at age 76.

He was a 30-year Army veteran whose tours included Korea and Vietnam. He held the Bronze Star. He was also former inspector general to the North Carolina National Guard.

After retirement he and his wife Bobbye taught Cajun dancing and were the Cajun dancers on a promotional tour of the eastern third of the U.S. promoting Franco Fete ‘99. They also produced a Cajun dancing DVD.

In addition to his widow he is survived by a daughter.

Arrangements are by Kilpatrick.

Businesswoman

LAFAYETTE – Services for businesswoman and civic leader Lou Patin will be Monday. She died March 7 at age 56.

She operated King-Patin Staffing Ltd. for more than 20 years and was one of The Independent News’ Women Who Mean Business honorees. She served on a number of civic and professional organization boards.

Survivors include her husband Keith and a son.

Arrangements are by Martin & Castille Southside.

Long-time vet

NATCHITOCHES – Services for long-time veterinarian Dr. Thomas White, Jr. will be Tuesday. He died March 8 at age 74.

He was president of his graduating veterinary class at Texas A&M and practiced her 49 years. He was owner of Natchitoches Animal Hospital and active in a number of organizations. He also had a brood mare practice in Coushatta.

Survivors include his wife Linda and four children.

Arrangements are by Blanchard-St. Denis.