Ernest G. Bilodeau 6/1/1920 - 8/22/2011

A proud Tin Can Sailor
Lifetime member -USS DeHaven DD-469 Sailors Association

Ernest (91) passed away on August 22, 2011 at Kent County Hospital, Warwick RI. He was Rose A. (Imondi) Bilodeau’s beloved husband for 67 years. Born in Thetford Mines, Quebec, Canada, to Ernest and Eva (Landry) Bilodeau. Ernest worked as a grinder on the construction of our new submarines at General Dynamics Electric Boat for ten years and as a mechanic at Grinnell Corp. for twenty years before his retirement.

Ernest served in the US Navy during WWII, surviving the sinking of USS DeHaven DD-469 and USS Wake Island, two of the ships on which he served. A lifetime member of the USS DeHaven Sailors Association. Ernest proudly wore his US Navy ring and referred to himself as a "Tin Can Sailor". He enjoyed landscaping, golf, skiing, bowling, water skiing, and spending time with family and friends. Ernest is also survived by loving family members and friends. He was a man who was loved by all.

Besides his wife he is survived by his loving daughter Marlene Ann Clarke and her husband Thomas, and his sister Theresa Garceau. Several of Ernest’s brother’s and sisters’ predeceased him; Roland, Paul, and Robert Bilodeau, Viola Heroux, Claire LeBlanc, and Beatrice Madden. A mass was held at St. Mark’s Church followed by internment with full military honors at St. Ann’s Cemetery, Cranston, RI.