Lenard Loid Chamberlain, 90, of San Saba, passed away Wednesday September 24, 2008, at a local nursing home. Funeral services, under the direction of Davis-Morris Funeral Home, were held Saturday, September 27, 2008 at the funeral home chapel, with Reverend Laurance Blackstock officiating. Interment, with military honors, followed at the Zephyr Cemetery. Condolences to the family may be left online at www.mem.com.

Mr. Chamberlain was born April 6, 1918, in the Bowser Community of San Saba County, to Henry Columbus and Mollie Ellender (White) Chamberlain. He married Mildred Inez Hopkins in Richland Springs on July 14, 1996. He was a member of the Pentecostal Church. Mr. Chamberlain worked with the WPA in the 1930s and in 1939 worked with the CCC at the Longhorn Caverns at Burnet and moved to Lake Brownwood in 1940.

In April 1941, he was the second inductee from Brown County into WWII into the 591st Amphibian Boat Regiment. After serving at Camp Bowie and Fort Bliss, he served in Scotland and England, three years in combat with two beach landings in North Africa, November 8, 1942 and Anzio, Italy 1943-44 under General George Patton and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. His units moved north into Europe through France in 1944 and into Germany in 1945. The battles of the campaign were in Algeria-French Morocco Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, Rhineland and Central Europe. He was a mess sergeant and rifle marksman. He earned six Bronze Stars and one Bronze Arrowhead American Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and American Theatre Campaign Medal.

After the war, he was in construction as a carpenter and worked at the Woolen Mill. He was a well known baker in Brownwood, working at Chisholm’s Restaurant and owned Lenard’s Doughnut Shop.

He is survived by his wife, Mildred, of San Saba; three step-children: Myrna Wright and husband, J.R., of Brownwood; Sandra Assenmacher of Abilene; and Kendall Cornelius and wife, Janette, of Zephyr; daughter-in-law, Joy Cornelius, of Zephyr; 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and three great-great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents; seven brothers: Henry, William, Hersel, Archie, Gordon, O.B., and Jewel; three sisters: Ethel Seamans, Jenevier Clements, and twin sister, Lois Bradley. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Cledah Beckham Cornelius Chamberlain, and step-son, Ronnie Cornelius.