SHERIDAN -- Funeral services for Sheridan resident Jess F. Troutman, 84, will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, March 31, at Champion-Ferries Funeral Home in Sheridan by Pastors Tim Charles and Scott Lee. Interment will be in Sheridan Municipal Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today, March 30.

He died March 26, 2005, at Memorial Hospital of Sheridan County.

Born March 7, 1921, in Wappapello, Mo., he was the son of John Franklin and Allie Belle (Jett) Troutman; moved to Wyoming at age 6 months with his family; and lived in Dayton for about a year. They lived on a homestead in Passaic until the children were old enough for school, then returned to Dayton.

He was educated in Wakely, Dietz and Dayton and graduated from Sheridan High School in 1942. The family then moved to a small ranch near Dayton.

In the fall of 1942, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in the 7th Infantry Division during World War II, achieving the rank of private first class, light mortar crewman. Campaigns included the Aleutian Islands and Southern Philippines. He was honorably discharged in October 1945 and received two Purple Hearts, five Bronze Stars, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

His sister, Betty, had a pen pal named Florence Kay McEwen. He saw her picture and fell in love. They began to correspond and were married June 2, 1950, in Kimberly, Idaho.

After the war, he returned to the family ranch, helped care for his parent, and raised his family there. Also, he worked as a nurse's aide at Sheridan Veterans Administration Hospital for 22 years and received the distinguished service award.

He remained on the ranch until his health forced the couple to move to Sheridan.

His interests included working the land; playing cards; spending time with his family and friends; and, especially in his later years, spending as much time as possible in the mountains. He was a member of Church of God of Prophecy and a life member of American Legion Post No. 7 in Sheridan.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years of Sheridan; two sons, John C. Troutman of Clearmont and Jesse C. Troutman of Buffalo; three daughters, Betty R. Seely of Sierra Vista, Ariz., Susan K. Puliafico of Billings, Mont., and Donna A. Richards of Sheridan; sister, Betty Belle Porter of Arvada, Colo.; eight grandchildren; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, four sisters, and a brother.

Memorials may be made to Sheridan Senior Center, in care of Cowboy State Bank, P.O. Box 789, Ranchester, WY 82839.