Claude Lavant Lunsford, Jr. age 88, of South Bend, Indiana, passed away Thursday, April 25, 2024. Visitation will be Sunday, April 28th from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm at Williams Funeral Home of Florence. The service will follow at 2:00 pm in the funeral home chapel with Brother Larry Burbank officiating. Burial will be at Milford Cemetery with full military honors. Pallbearers will be Jason Wood, Todd Wood, Robby Wood, Caden Wood, Wes Mattox, and Brian Lunsford. Honorary pallbearers will be Stephen Wood and Bob Boehnlein.
He was preceded in death by his father, Claude L. Lunsford, Sr.; mother, Opal Garnet Driscoll; brother, Brian Lunsford, Sr.; sister, Joanne Opal Lunsford Kiester; wife, Bobbie Ann Lunsford.
Survivors are his daughter, Derise Ann Wood (Stephen M.); grandsons, Janson M. Wood, Robby L. Wood (Jaime S.), and Todd A. Wood (Alicia D.). great-grandchildren, Caden S.E. Wood (Abie G.), Gracey S. Donaldson, Nevaeh S. Wood, Sophia S. Wood, Mattie A. Wood, Javan H.S. Wood, and Paisley D. Wood.
Claude was a retired U.S Army Veteran of twenty plus years having served in 2 tours in Vietnam. From 1955 until 1975 a retired veteran Sargent 1st Class (T) E-7 Army RA INF; 7th Army 1963 24th INF DIV 1964 CO. B, 4th BA, 9th INF, APO SE 98731 TWO Tours Vietnam 1965 – 66; 1970-71 Skipper on MAC-V ship AOH (Berlin) Military Police Ski instructor Alaska, Vietnam Service Metal, Vietnam Campaign Metal, Bronze Star, Combat Infantrymen Badge, NATL Defense Service Metal, AFEM, Good Conduct Metal and 3 overseas Bar. TRAINING Courses included: Jungle Operation course – 3 weeks 1961, 7th Army – 4 weeks 1963, 24th Inf Div – 4 weeks 1964, USAHWTC Water Move Bridge 1 week 1969, Ft. Greely AK. Proj. Tag Course – 1 week 1969, USAHWTC Winter Move Operation – 4 weeks 1969, Summer Move Operation – 4 weeks 1969.
