Fred Leray Siler

Col. Fred Leray Siler July 27, 1920 March 23, 2009 Col. Fred Leray Siler, retired USAF, Japanese POW and Bataan Death March survivor, passed away Monday, March 23, 2009, after a long illness. The service will be 3:00 p.m., Monday, March 30, in the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Chapel. A graveside service with full military honors will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be 2:00-2:45 p.m., Monday, March 30, in the Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Garden Room. Fred Siler was born on July 27, 1920, in Ogden, Utah, the second son of Samuel L. and Ida Wheeler Siler. Ultimately he had two brothers and two sisters. He graduated from Pocatello Idaho High School in 1936. He went directly on to attend Idaho Southern and Utah State at Logan, Utah, and after the war, he attended Purdue University. Fred volunteered to join the Army in February 1941 as a flying cadet and received his commission as a 2nd Lieutenant in September of that year. He volunteered to go to the Philippines with the 20th Pursuit Squadron at Clark Field. They were attacked by the Japanese on December 8, 1941. General Wainwright surrendered the American troops in the Philippines in April 1942. Fred was a Japanese POW for three and one half years. He met his future wife, Waurine Walker, while visiting his best friend in Hillsboro, Texas, and their marriage lasted 62 years. To that union was born two daughters, Candace Buckley Norris of New York City, New York, and Shawna Siler Phillips of Southlake, Texas. After the war he wanted to stay in the Army Air Force and fly planes that he never had a chance to fly. During this time he was stationed at eight different bases, including an overseas assignment to Ramstein, Germany. His last station was Headquarters Strategic Missile Wing in Minot, North Dakota. Fred retired after 23 years in the Army Air Force. He then took a job with the defense contractor TRW in the missile field at Ogden, Utah, and Washington, D.C. His last move was to Waco, Texas where he and his wife bought and managed an apartment complex for ten years. After his third retirement he and his wife enjoyed golf and duplicate bridge, where they both attained the bronze Life Masters status. He was a member of the American Legion and a volunteer for the American Red Cross. Fred was a beloved husband, father and grandfather, as well as the family hero. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, George Siler and Ray Siler; and one sister, Donna Mary Kempe. He is survived by his loving wife, Waurine; and their two daughters, Candace Buckley Norris and her husband, David, of New York City, and Shawna Siler Phillips and her husband, Martin, of Southlake; granddaughters, Erin Colleen Buckley of New York City, and Hallie Siler Phillips of Southlake; grandson, Guinn Walker Phillips of Boulder, Colorado; sister, Evelyn Pugmire and husband, Robert, of Salina, California; one niece and five nephews. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our "Memorial Guestbook" at www.WilkirsonHatchBailey.com.