William Edwin Somerville Jr., 77, of Leander, Texas, died in his home peacefully on Sept. 5.

Born April 21, 1928, in

Butler, he was the son of William and Ruth Somerville.

Mr. Somerville retired from the Marine Corps as a staff sergeant after serving his country in numerous conflicts around the world. He was stationed in Cuba during the Cuban missile crisis, fought in the Korean War; and during much of the time of the Vietnam War, he was a Marine recruiter.

One of his most memorable experiences in the Marines was being the last American to leave China before communist takeover of the country.

He is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Martha Callender Somerville; two daughters, Vivian Neel and her husband, Jerry, of Dallas, Texas, and Denise Brown and her husband, Andrew, of Galveston, Texas; two sons, Jeff Somerville of Cedar Park, Texas, Aaron Somerville of Houston, Texas; a granddaughter, Shannon Lively Pompa and her husband, Danny Pompa of Dallas; two grandsons, Stephan and Christopher Brown, both of Galveston; and two great-grandsons, Dillion Lively Pompa and Kayden Lively Pompa, both of Dallas.

Also surviving are a sister, Mary Louis Hoffman of Butler; a nephew, Rick Hoffman and family of Butler; a niece, Cheryl Adams and family of New York; and a cousin, Bob Somerville and family of Butler.

A son, William L. Somerville, preceded him in death.

SOMERVILLE - Graveside services with full military honors for William Edwin Somerville, who died Monday, Sept. 5, 2005, will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Va.Arrangements under the direction of BECK FUNERAL HOME, Cedar Park, Leander.