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<center><blockquote>'''''One cannot live a good or meaningful life without God in your life.''''' - Bill Ichter</blockquote></center>

<center><blockquote>'''''One cannot live a good or meaningful life without God in your life.''''' - Bill Ichter</blockquote></center>

==Biography==

==Background==

Ichter was one of two sons of Harold Lester Ichter (1903-1993) and the former Harriet Ellen Tremayne in Nanticoke, a small [[coal]]-mining community in Berks County near Reading in southeastern [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name=familysearch/> Harold Ichter was an employee of the [[United States Postal Service]] and the Pennsylvania [[National Guard]]; the family was hardly impacted by the [[Great Depression]] because of the father's two paychecks. With the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] in 1941, the senior Ichter was sent to [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]], to be an umpire for the war games at nearby [[United States Army]] camps. As a result of this move, the younger Ichter came into contact with Southern Baptists. He graduated a semester early in 1943 from Bolton High School in Alexandria.<ref name=familysearch/>  

Ichter was one of two sons of Harold Lester Ichter (1903-1993) and the former Harriet Ellen Tremayne in Nanticoke, a small [[coal]]-mining community in Berks County near Reading in southeastern [[Pennsylvania]].<ref name=familysearch/> Harold Ichter was an employee of the [[United States Postal Service]] and the Pennsylvania [[National Guard]]; the family was hardly impacted by the [[Great Depression]] because of the father's two paychecks. With the attack on [[Pearl Harbor]] in 1941, the senior Ichter was sent to [[Alexandria, Louisiana|Alexandria]], [[Louisiana]], to be an umpire for the war games at nearby [[United States Army]] camps. As a result of this move, the younger Ichter came into contact with Southern Baptists. He graduated a semester early in 1943 from Bolton High School in Alexandria.<ref name=familysearch/>  

He served from February 1944 to June 1946 as a corporal in [[General]] [[George S. Patton, Jr.]]'s Third Army infantry in [[Europe]]<ref name=familysearch>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/28101155|title=William Ichter - Oral History Project - World War II (1944-1946)|publisher=Familysearch.org|accessdate=March 18, 2017}}</ref> and participated in various [[music]]al groups with the Allied Army of Occupation. His book, ''Who Me, God?'' reflects in part on his military experiences.<ref name=bio/> Harold Ichter was mobilized as part of the 28th Infantry Division but failed his overseas physical because of [[arthritis]] and was instead sent to administer [[prisoner of war]] camps at Camp Livingston in Louisiana and other facilities in [[Texas]] and [[New Mexico]], while son Bill sailed overseas from Fort Dix, [[New Jersey]], and arrived in [[England]] on February 6, 1945, soon sent thereafter into Patton's army. After the war, he toured [[Rome]] as part of an Army choir and saw first-hand the devastation and rampant poverty of postwar [[Italy]].<ref name=familysearch/>

He served from February 1944 to June 1946 as a corporal in [[General]] [[George S. Patton, Jr.]]'s Third Army infantry in [[Europe]]<ref name=familysearch>{{cite web|url=https://familysearch.org/photos/artifacts/28101155|title=William Ichter - Oral History Project - World War II (1944-1946)|publisher=Familysearch.org|accessdate=March 18, 2017}}</ref> and participated in various [[music]]al groups with the Allied Army of Occupation. His book, ''Who Me, God?'' reflects in part on his military experiences.<ref name=bio/> Harold Ichter was mobilized as part of the 28th Infantry Division but failed his overseas physical because of [[arthritis]] and was instead sent to administer [[prisoner of war]] camps at Camp Livingston in Louisiana and other facilities in [[Texas]] and [[New Mexico]], while son Bill sailed overseas from Fort Dix, [[New Jersey]], and arrived in [[England]] on February 6, 1945, soon sent thereafter into Patton's army. After the war, he toured [[Rome]] as part of an Army choir and saw first-hand the devastation and rampant poverty of postwar [[Italy]].<ref name=familysearch/>

In 1949, Bill Ichter with assistance from the G.I. Bill of Rights completed his bachelor's degree from Baptist-affiliated [[Louisiana College]] in [[Pineville, Louisiana|Pineville]] with majors in [[Bible]] and music. Ichter made his profession of faith in [[Jesus Christ]] at a campus chapel service preached by [[W. O. Vaught]], who from 1945 to 1983 was the pastor of the Immanuel Baptist Church in [[Little Rock]], [[Arkansas]]. While serving in the music ministry of the Istrouma Baptist Church in [[Baton Rouge]], Ichter felt the divine call for mission work. He obtained a master's degree from  Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[New Orleans]] and continued to serve area churches. In 1956, at his appointment ceremony in [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], [[Virginia]], Ichter met [[Billy Graham]], who was holding a crusade that week in Richmond and spoke to each new missionary. In 1964, Ichter compiled a crusade hymnal and composed one song himself. In 1974, Ichter led the 11,500-voice Graham Crusade Choir during the evangelist's appearance in [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref name=bio/> Upon Graham's death in 2018, Ichter recalled in an interview with his hometown newspaper that the world-known evangelist was "a very dynamic man. A very humble man, and a great man of the Lord. He was well recognized, but he wasn’t a political figure. He was a unifier. When we had the crusade choir, the different denominations had never worked together on anything, but he was the unifier that brought them together."<ref name=cdaniel>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/bill-billy/|title=Bill and Billy|author=Caleb Daniel|accessdate=February 28, 2018}}</ref> Ichter added, “Heaven will be richer. He’s up there with [[George Beverly Sheat|Bev Shea]] and [[Cliff Barrows]]. The three of them were inseparable during the Graham crusades all over the country, and now they’re together again.”<ref name=cdaniel/>

==Baptist clergyman==

Ichter returned to Louisiana from Brazil in 1990. In recent years, he has resided in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in  Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where he is active in the First Baptist Church and has been a hospital chaplain.<ref name=familysearch/> On [[Veterans Day]] 2014, his adopted city of Minden observed "Bill Ichter Day," proclaimed by Mayor Marvin Thomas "Tommy" Davis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/rev-bill-itcher-saluted-veterans-day/|title=Rev. Bill Ichter saluted on Veterans Day|author=Bonnie Culverhouse|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=March 19, 2017}}</ref> In the ceremony, Ichter received from the French consul the Legion of Honor medal, the highest award by that nation. He had also won a [[Bronze Star]] during the war. His name was the first to be placed on the Wall of Honor at Minden's Veterans Flag Memorial. The South Webster [[Chamber of Commerce]] awarded him  its "Lifetime Achievement Award."<ref name=bio>"Bill Ichter ('49): Music Missionary to Brazil, ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends'', Winter 2016, p. 22.</ref>

 

In 1990, Ichter returned to Louisiana from Brazil. In recent years, he has resided in [[Minden, Louisiana|Minden]] in  Webster Parish in northwestern Louisiana, where he is active in the First Baptist Church and has been a hospital chaplain.<ref name=familysearch/> On [[Veterans Day]] 2014, his adopted city of Minden observed "Bill Ichter Day," proclaimed by Mayor Marvin Thomas "Tommy" Davis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/rev-bill-itcher-saluted-veterans-day/|title=Rev. Bill Ichter saluted on Veterans Day|author=Bonnie Culverhouse|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=October 15, 2014|accessdate=March 19, 2017}}</ref> In the ceremony, Ichter received from the French consul the Legion of Honor medal, the highest award by that nation. He had also won a [[Bronze Star]] during the war. His name was the first to be placed on the Wall of Honor at Minden's Veterans Flag Memorial. The South Webster [[Chamber of Commerce]] awarded him  its "Lifetime Achievement Award."<ref name=bio>"Bill Ichter ('49): Music Missionary to Brazil, ''Columns: The Magazine for Louisiana College Alumni and Friends'', Winter 2016, p. 22.</ref>

Ichter and his wife, the former Jerry Catron (1930-2018), wed in 1949.<ref name=familysearch/> She is a daughter of businessman Alonzo Brown Catron (1897-1984) and the former Luta Edmonson (1904-1999), who are interred at the New Forest Cemetery in the village of Forest near Oak Grove in West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Catron&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=47197320&df=all&|title=Alonzo Brown Catron|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 21, 2017}}</ref> Mrs. Ichter graduated from Forest High School and studied secretarial science at Louisiana College, where she met her husband. Her older sister, Patricia "Pat" Catron de Pingré, of Irving, [[Texas]],<ref name=mrsichterdeath/> is the widow of Major Louis de Pingré (1928-2007), a Minden businessman, former journalist, and historian of the First Baptist Church of Minden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54133974/major-louis-de_pingre|title=Major Louis de Pingré|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 22, 2018}}</ref>

Ichter and his wife, the former Jerry Catron (1930-2018), wed in 1949.<ref name=familysearch/> She is a daughter of businessman Alonzo Brown Catron (1897-1984) and the former Luta Edmonson (1904-1999), who are interred at the New Forest Cemetery in the village of Forest near Oak Grove in West Carroll Parish in northeastern Louisiana.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=Catron&GSbyrel=all&GSdyrel=all&GSst=20&GScntry=4&GSob=n&GRid=47197320&df=all&|title=Alonzo Brown Catron|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=March 21, 2017}}</ref> Mrs. Ichter graduated from Forest High School and studied secretarial science at Louisiana College, where she met her husband. Her older sister, Patricia "Pat" Catron de Pingré, of Irving, [[Texas]],<ref name=mrsichterdeath/> is the widow of Major Louis de Pingré (1928-2007), a Minden businessman, former journalist, and historian of the First Baptist Church of Minden.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54133974/major-louis-de_pingre|title=Major Louis de Pingré|publisher=Findagrave.com|accessdate=September 22, 2018}}</ref>

There are four Ichter children. Alana (born May 1950) and Ronald W. Greenwich (born July 1948), also reside in Minden.<ref name=bio/> A son, Carlos Leslyn Ichter (born c. 1960), is the minister of music at the Tallowood Baptist Church in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas, and is a music graduate of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tallowood.org/carlos-ichter/|title=Carlos Ichter|publisehr=tallowood.org|accessdate=March 19, 2017}}</ref> Two other sons are Alan Ichter and his wife, Barbara, of Carrollton, Texas, and Nelson Ichter and his wife, Janilda, of [[Dallas]], Texas.<ref name=mrsichterdeath/>

There are four Ichter children. Alana (born May 1950) and Ronald W. Greenwich (born July 1948), also reside in Minden.<ref name=bio/> A son, Carlos Leslyn Ichter (born c. 1960), is the minister of music at the Tallowood Baptist Church in [[Houston, Texas|Houston]], Texas, and is a music graduate of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in [[Fort Worth]], Texas.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tallowood.org/carlos-ichter/|title=Carlos Ichter|publisehr=tallowood.org|accessdate=March 19, 2017}}</ref> Two other sons are Alan Ichter and his wife, Barbara, of Carrollton, Texas, and Nelson Ichter and his wife, Janilda, of [[Dallas]], Texas.<ref name=mrsichterdeath/>

On June 22, 2018, Ichter suffered a fractured hip in a household fall; he is recovering.  

On June 22, 2018, Ichter suffered a fractured hip in a household fall; he is recovering.  

On September 19, Mrs. Ichter died peacefully in her sleep.<ref name=mrsichterdeath>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/jerry-ichter/|title=Jerry Ichter obituary|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=September 21, 2018|accessdate=September 22, 2018}}</ref>

On September 19, Mrs. Ichter died peacefully in her sleep.<ref name=mrsichterdeath>{{cite web|url=http://press-herald.com/jerry-ichter/|title=Jerry Ichter obituary|publisher=''Minden Press-Herald''|date=September 21, 2018|accessdate=September 22, 2018}}</ref>

Ichter said that one "cannot live a good or meaningful life without [[God]] in your life. Louisiana College taught me how to live and not just how to make a living."<ref name=bio/>

Ichter remarked that one "cannot live a good or meaningful life without [[God]] in your life. Louisiana College taught me how to live and not just how to make a living."<ref name=bio/>