William Jack “Bill” Havens, 81, passed away on October 24, 2012 at his home in Smithfield, VA. Born May 23, 1931 in Huntington, West Virginia, he was the son of the late Leonard O. and Rhoda Booth Havens, and husband of the late Teresa Lorraine Havens. A retired Staff Sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps, he was a survivor of the battle of the Korean War battle at the Chosin Reservoir, the “Chosin Frozen,” and was deeply involved with the Chosin Few organization. Bill’s other assignments for the Corps included: Camp LeJeune, NC; Guam; Okinawa; Hastings, NE; Quantico, VA; Kaneohe Bay, HI; Twenty-Nine Palms, CA; and his final assignment prior to retirement was a return to Korea following the 1968 Pueblo Incident. He proudly enlisted in the Corps in 1948 and served until his retirement in 1969.

During their 53 years of marriage, Lorraine and Bill raised several prized Shetland Sheep Dogs that they cherished and shared with their friends and family during vacations – Beau, MacDuff, Rob Roy, Dandy Andy, Molly, Prince, and Annie. They also raised and loved their niece’s dog Maxine, and after Lorraine’s death, Bill raised dogs Dolly and Hokie and cherished them for helping him adjust to widowhood.

Bill and Lorraine’s favorite vacation spot was Cape May, NJ. They savored their Cape May vacations with their nieces and great-nephews and great-niece. As much as they loved their family time, they would always get dressed up for a “date night” for one evening during each vacation. They also enjoyed many Christmas vacations at the homes of the Barbey family in New Jersey and the Gaffney family in Nebraska. They knew how to love deeply and tenderly each day of their marriage to each other and all members of their extended family.

Bill was a walking encyclopedia on two subjects – football and military history. He participated in a weekly football pool with his nephew, Rob Gaffney, and he also participated in another football pool where they asked him to quit participating because he won too many times. Bill was an Ohio State Buckeye man, although the Nebraska Cornhuskers came in a close second. Anyone who needed information on military history knew who to ask – Uncle Bill.

Bill survived multiple recurrences of cancer, and he was nursed back to health by his beloved niece and nephew, Rene’ and William Fitch, who are both registered nurses. They saved his life many, many times. He loved and appreciated them deeply. Bill was also cared for by his other two nieces, Amy Hines and Robin Tate, and sister-in-law Charnell Havens. His family fought to give him the best quality of life they could for as long as he wanted to live. Bill died peacefully and lovingly at home with the help of nieces Amy, Rene’, Robin, visiting niece Susan Barbey, nephew William, dog Hokie and Heartland Home Healthcare’s hospice unit, who were wonderful caregiving partners.

Bill was a cherished son, brother, husband, uncle, neighbor, and friend. He was a joy to be around, and he made the world a better place.

He is survived by three sisters-in-law, Charnell Havens of Carrollton, VA, Jerry Havens of Raleigh, NC, and Mary Haven of Columbus, OH; nine nieces, Amy Havens Hines and her husband, Thomas Hines, Jr. and Rene’ Havens Fitch and her husband, William, all of Smithfield, VA, Robin Havens Tate and her husband, Dr. Joseph Tate of Hollidaysburg, PA, Stacey Williams of Raleigh, NC, Barbara McGhee of Columbus, OH, Patrina Haven of Columbus, OH, Janet Barbey Lashway and her husband, Mark of West Springfield, MA, Susan Barbey of Ridgewood, NJ, and Maureen Gaffney Nickels of Chapman, NE; four nephews, Geoff Barbey and his wife, Marci of Hastings-on-Hudson, NY, Howard Gaffney and his wife, Linda of Anselmo, NE, Philip Gaffney and his wife, Susan of Augusta, GA, and Robert Gaffney and his wife, Sara of Apex, NC; seventeen great-nieces and nephews, Holly Brown, Joshua Brown, Alexandra Stoehr, Evan Fitch, Thomas Hines, III, Ryan Hines, Christopher William Barbey, Brian Lashway, Marci Lashway, Howard D. Gaffney, Angela Gaffney Dickey, Teresa Gaffney Lentfer, Andrew Gaffney, Philip J. Gaffney, Matthew Gaffney, Chloè Gaffney, and Conrad Gaffney; a great-great nephew, Caleb Przbylinski; his beloved dog, Hokie; and a friend and neighbor, Bobby Melvins. In addition to his beloved wife of 53 years, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Harry, David, and Robert Havens; and a nephew, Billy Havens.

The family will receive friends and have a Christian Wake Service on Sunday, November 4th at 7 p.m. at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 300 Smithfield Boulevard, Smithfield, VA. A funeral mass will be offered on Monday, November 5th at 10 a.m. at the church. A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at St. Luke’s Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 14477 Benns Church Boulevard, Smithfield.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to the animal shelter of your choice.

Please use the links provided to sign the online guestbook.

Thank you Mr. Havens for your faithful service in the United States Marine Corps.