Obituaries for March 20

Alford Jr., Alvin Dean       

He was a native of Magnolia, Miss., and a resident of St. Amant. He was 79 and died Monday, March 16, 2009.  He was a retired railroad switchman with the Kansas City Southern Railroad and a veteran of the U.S. Marines Corps. Visitation at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, Friday from 10 a.m. until service at noon, conducted by the Rev. Ronnie Gautreaux. Interment in Holy Rosary Cemetery, St. Amant.  He was a member of St. John Lodge 153, F&AM, and the Jerusalem Temple Clown Unit and spent a lot of time entertaining disabled children with the clown unit.

LeBlanc, Mabel Villar        

A homemaker and a resident of Gonzales, she died at 6:53 p.m. Monday, March 16, 2009, at her home. She was 84 and a native of Brignac. Interment in Hope Haven Cemetery, La. 30, Gonzales. She was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church, Ladies Altar Society and RCIA and charter member of the Catholic Daughters.

Shampine, George L.

Retired chief of police of the Sorrento Police Department, he died at 6:20 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, 2009, at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center. He was 72 and a native of Gouverneur, N.Y. Body was cremated. Close family and friends visited Thursday, March 19, at his home, 8296 Beech St., Sorrento. Survived by his wife, Shirley J. Klock Shampine; five daughters, Candi Shampine, Rena Whetstine, Ronda Quayhagen, Robin Shampine and Rebecca Daniels; son, Dennis Shampine; sister, Faye Shampine Berggren; 18 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Preceded in death by his father and mother, Raymond and Edith Shampine; and granddaughter, Amanda Shampine. To sign and view the family guest book, please visit www.legacy.com/weeklycitizen

Thibeau Sr., Joseph H.

A resident of Prairieville, he died early Monday, March 16, 2009, at Promise of Ascension Hospital, Gonzales. He was 85 and proudly served his country during World War II with the U.S. Army in the Pacific Theater. He retired from Borden Chemical as a crane operator with more than 20 years of service. Burial in Mount Zion Cemetery, Galvez.  He was a 32nd degree Mason out of the Cedar Grove Lodge and a longtime member of the I.U.O.E. Local 406 Operators Union.