World War II veteran Cecil M. Lydolph, 93, passed from this life on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014, in Taylor. In honor of his wishes, no services will be held at this time.
He was born on Jan 18, 1921, to Charles Ernest and Georgia May Workman Lydolph.
Cecil married the love of his life, Wanda Marie Vickers, on May 17, 1941. They were married for 73 years last May. Wanda passed five short weeks ago and Cecil followed her just like he promised her he would. He always kept his word.
They moved with their four children from Bonaparte, Iowa, to Snowflake in 1962 when the papermill opened, then back briefly to Bonaparte from 1976 to 1979. Then they came back to live in Taylor and he would return to working for the papermill until he retired in 1983.
Cecil was the 1938 senior class president of the Bonaparte School. He excelled in sports and academics.
He worked for the Rock Island Railroad, Fairfield glove factory, Barkers in Keosauqua, Iowa, and a plastic factory in Bonaparte. He also bought and worked his own farm.
Cecil loved to watch baseball games on TV, or watch his grandchildren play little league and school sports. He loved to bowl, fish, work, garden, build, set on the porch swing and just enjoy life. He loved his children unconditionally. He was a great man, husband, father and grandfather.
He was a World War II veteran entered into active service on May 27, 1943, as “Carpenters mate (construction battalion) (surveyor) 3/C.” They were known as Seabees. Cecil never saw battle, but was very close. He arrived in Pearl Harbor on Sept. 16, 1944, then pulled anchor to join a convoy outside of Pearl Harbor. From there his ship went into the Marshall Islands, then to Ulithi Atolls Lagoon Caroline Islands on Oct. 8, 1944. On Nov. 2, 1944, they debarked from SS Cape Newenham and landed on Guam. Along with another ship unit they were assigned to a stretch of jungle west of the airstrip on Orote Peninsula. They set sail for Japan and dropped anchor offshore of it. On Aug. 30 they debarked from LST’S and landed on Honshu Island, Yokosuka airbase, Yokosuka Japan. They were the first Seabees to land on Nippon soil three days before the formal surrender of the Japanese to the United Nations (Sept. 2, 1945) as a member of task force 31 participating in the initial landing and occupation of the Tokyo Bay area and the capture of the HIJMS Nagoto, which symbolized the unconditional and complete surrender of the Japanese Navy. Cecil was honorably discharged on Nov. 27, 1945.
Survivors include three sons, Chris Lydolph of Texas, Murrie (Janet) Lydolph of Mississippi and Jeff Lydolph of Mississippi; a daughter, Sarita (Lynn R.) Hatch of Taylor; 15 grandchildren; and 36 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Wanda; his parents; a brother, Ernest Lydolph; a grandson; George Lydolph; and a daughter-in-law Trenna Lydolph.
In lieu of flowers, donations to Hospice Compassus would be appreciated.
Silver Creek Mortuary of Taylor was in charge of the arrangements.
