Louis Gerard Villaume passed away peacefully on Feb. 8, 2022, at the Gardens at Brookridge in Pharr, Texas, where he lived after evacuating Lake Charles, La., during Hurricane Laura in 2020.

Mr. Villaume was born on Jan. 14, 1932, in Summit, N.J., and was the son of Emme Katherine Wisbauer Villaume and William John Villaume Sr. He attended schools in Summit and in New Rochelle, New York, and graduated from the Wharton School of Finance and Commerce of the University of Pennsylvania in 1954, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics. He was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity.

Upon graduation, he was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force and entered pilot training, receiving his wings in 1956. He flew the F-86 SabreJet and the F-100 Super Sabre, and was qualified as a fighter day pilot and a flight test pilot. In 1962, he was honorably discharged from service with the grade of Captain.

After serving the balance of his Air Force career in Japan, Louis moved to San Francisco, and began working for National Cash Register (NCR). There he achieved the honor of Salesman of the Year Award in 1973 from The Sales and Marketing Executives Association of San Francisco and was responsible for selling and installing the first ever computerized cash register and reservation system for Hyatt Hotels. 

In 1974, he moved, with his two young boys (Brett and Nicolas), to Lake Charles, La., to be close to his sister and brother-in-law, the late Dr. George and Nina Schneider, and began his career as a New York Life Insurance Agent.

With New York Life, Villaume earned the Chartered Life Underwriter and Chartered Financial Consultant designations from the American College, and was a Life Member of the Million Dollar Round Table. 

In 1988, Louis met Sydalise (Sissie) Fredeman Crawford and they married in June of 1991. They were happily married and had many great adventures together until Sissie’s death on their 20th anniversary, June 29, 2011.

He was past president of the following professional organizations: Society of Financial Service Professionals, Estate Planning Council, and Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors. He was a member and Past Master of Lake Charles Lodge 165, F&AM, and a member of the Rotary Club of Lake Charles and the Salvation Army Advisory Board.

Mr. Villaume is preceded in death by his wife Sydalise Fredeman Villaume of Port Arthur, Texas, and Lake Charles, La.; his siblings, William Villaume of Corpus Christi, Texas, Nina Schneider of Lake Charles, La., and Jacques Villaume of Baton Rouge, La.; and his brother-in-law, Dr. George Schneider of Lake Charles, whom he held in great admiration.

He is survived by his sons, Brett Villaume of San Francisco, Calif., and Nicolas (Mary Pitre) Villaume of Baton Rouge, La.; three grandchildren, Isabel (Ian) Jones, George Villaume, and Celia Villaume; two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Charlie Jones; his sister-in-law, Charlotte Villaume; nieces, Jane Schneider Horner of Helena, Ark., Ann Schneider Blackwell of Jackson, Miss., and Jennifer Villaume of Baton Rouge, La.; and nephews, Phillip Schneider of Lafayette, La., Steven Schneider of Fayetteville, Ark., and JP Villaume of Baton Rouge, La.

The family would also like to give thanks to his two close friends who have survived him, Robert Crawford of Hattiesburg, Miss., and Dr. Edgar McCanless of Lake Charles, La., both of whom have been lifelong and loyal friends.

The family would also like to thank the many caregivers/friends who have devoted themselves to him in the last years of his life including: Debbie Briley, Renita Washington, and Pam Sallier.

A memorial service celebrating Louis’ life will be held at 11 a.m. on March 12, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Lake Charles, La., with visitation from 10 a.m. until the start of the service.