Mr. William L. Danforth, age 76, died Thursday, May 3, 2018.
Funeral services will be at 11 a.m., Monday, May 7, 2018 in the chapel of Hardy-Towns Funeral Home with Rev. Billy Baker officiating. Committal service will be held with Georgia Department of Corrections honor guard at 2 p.m. Monday at Andersonville National Cemetery.
Visitation will be Sunday evening from 5 til 7 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mr. Danforth was born August 31, 1941 in Adel, Georgia to the late Ruby Sumner and J.C. Danforth. He was a member of Providence Baptist Church and retired from the Georgia Department of Corrections. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and passed his love of the outdoors to his grandchildren. Mr. Danforth joined the United States Army in 1958. As an enlisted man, he was promoted to sergeant and commissioned as a second lieutenant of infantry in 1965. He served two tours as an instructor with the U.S. Army Infantry School in Fort Benning. He served in Vietnam from June 1967 to June 1968. He also served as an infantry platoon leader and company commander with the 199th Light Infantry Brigade. He was awarded three Bronze Star Medals with Valor, an Air Medal, three Purple Hearts, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Good Conduct medals and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB), and numerous other medals. He worked 20 years as a public safety instructor. He also served as commanding officer with the 377th Quartermaster Company and the Tifton Army Reserve Company from 1972 to 1974. He also served as Senior Vice Commander of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter #1000.
Mr. Danforth is survived by his wife, Nora Danforth of Eastman; daughter, Cathy Maxwell (Durham) of Hartsfield; sons, William C. Danforth (Beth) of Valdosta and Robert W. Danforth (Sophia) of Eastman; nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren; and one brother, Larry Danforth (Jan) of Perry.
He was predeceased by his parents, Ruby Sumner and J.C. Danforth; sister, Rosemary Crosby and brother, Johnny Danforth.
Those serving as pallbearers will be members of the Georgia Department of Corrections and Georgia State Patrol.
Hardy-Towns Funeral Home of Eastman is in charge of arrangements. www.hardy-towns.com