Obituaries

Bernard Monroe "Bernie" Boullioun

Photo of Bernard Monroe "Bernie" Boullioun
Bernard Monroe "Bernie" Boullioun, age 93, of Little Rock, died December 6, 2011. He was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas to the late Cora Johns and Arthur Boullioun. After graduation from Arkadelphia High School he graduated from Dallas Technical School in Dallas, Texas. Before retirement he was Service Manager for A.W. Johnson Company for 31 years. Bernie served in the Army Air Corps from December 4, 1941 to September 29, 1945. During the war he was an engineer with a B-24 bombardier crew. He flew 14 missions over Sicily and Italy before being shot down behind enemy lines and taken captive. He was taken to a German guarded hospital attached to a Catholic Church for treatment of shrapnel wounds received while bailing out of the plane. Aided by nuns from the church he and fellow crew members escaped the hospital. After 20 days and 80 miles and with much help from the Italian Underground the two crew members crossed into Allied territory and were greeted by British soldiers. He received a Purple Heart and Air Metal with five clusters. He completed his Army career as an Aerial Engineer Instructor at Charleston Air Base in South Carolina. Bernie loved being with his family and his hobby was making wood furniture for his family members including toy guns for the grandchildren. He also loved gardening and spent the last eight years in genealogy. Bernie was a very active member of Westover Hills Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 plus years, Lydia Tryon Boullioun of Little Rock; daughters, Betty Boullioun of Little Rock, Deen Minton and husband Larry of Little Rock, Beckey B. Davis and husband Doyle of Scott; one sister, Betty McCaskill of Georgia, one grandson, Joe Minton of Little Rock, great-grandsons; Lane and Sidney Minton of Little Rock, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. There will be a visitation Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Ruebel Funeral Home followed by a funeral service Friday, December 9, 2011 at 11 a.m. at Westover Hills Presbyterian Church, 6400 Richard B. Hardie Drive, Little Rock. Services will be officiated by Reverend Michael Kuner and Reverend Debbie Freeman. Arrangements are under the direction of Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to Westover Hills Building Fund.

Published December 8, 2011

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