Wilfred Louis Guerin

Wilfred Louis Guerin, Jr, 94, of Shreveport, LA died March 28, 2024.

Simply put, he was equally a family man, a Catholic, a scholar and an educator, each informing the other.

He was born in New Orleans, LA in 1929 to Wilfred Louis Guerin, Sr and Carmela (Camille) Cali Guerin. Wilfred was the oldest of their four children and was preceded in death by his siblings Roland, Russell and Gloria.

Wilfred attended Holy Cross High School in New Orleans before studying English at Tulane University and earning a B.A. with Honors in 1951.  This was followed by a M.A. and a Ph.D. in Medieval English (1959) both also awarded by Tulane University. After a short stint as an instructor at Holy Cross High School, he moved to Shreveport in 1952 to teach in the English Department at Centenary College of Louisiana. With detours for the advanced classes and to teach at the University of Southwestern Louisiana for one year, he was at Centenary College into 1974. For three years immediately after his undergraduate work, he also served in the National Guard, an experience he later valued because of diversity of the people with whom he served. From 1974 to 1998, Wilfred was a Professor in the Department of English at LSU in Shreveport while also serving as Chair of the Department and latter as Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. He was named Provost and Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs in 1988, serving through 1991.

Recognized at both Centenary and LSU-S with Outstanding Teacher and Faculty Excellence Awards, he took particular pride in establishing a Master of Arts in Liberal Arts at LSU-S, serving as Director of the program from 1992 until his retirement in 1998. And while none of his children made a full time career in the college classroom as he hoped, all have made life long commitments to teaching in one way or another.

With three colleagues at Centenary College, he co-authored A Handbook of Critical Approaches to Literature in 1966. Rare for a college text, HCAL went through six editions over 44 years and was translated into multiple languages for use in Latin America and Asia Pacific countries. The same four friends curated a companion anthology, Mandala - Literature for Critical Analysis.

Upon his arrival in Shreveport, he became an active participant at St. Joseph Catholic Church, serving the parish in multiple capacities over the next 60 plus years. He was named Knight of St. Gregory the Great in the papal order in 1999. Wilfred also brought his love of teaching to the Church as an adjunct faculty of the Greco Institute starting in 2001 presenting courses ranging from Dante to the social encyclicals and Vatican II.

Wilfred met the love of his life, Wilda Mae Belson, when she came to live with her aunt a few doors away from his parents' house while she attended Holy Angels High School in New Orleans.  She proved to be the wind under his wings and they were married July 21, 1951 in New Orleans. Wilfred and Wilda were blessed with six children and their spouses: Wilfred Thomas (Nancy), Glenn Francis (Shelia), Geoffery Michael (Sandy), Eleanor, Gregory Paul (Karen), and Julia Ann (Jay Smith). The extended family included numerous nieces and nephews and in due course, direct grandchildren Wilfred Lee Guerin (predeceased), Camille Smith, Louis Guerin and Mariel Guerin. 

Once retired, Wilfred cherished time with his grandchildren. He could be found at school and sporting events, carpool lines, tennis courts and playing at SciPort.

Growing up, Wilfred spent summers and weekends with his parents and siblings in Clermont Harbor, MS. There they fished, crabbed and spent the days swimming. He passed this love for the outdoors and the Mississippi Gulf coast to his own family and many of their summer vacations were spent there enjoying the same activities. He also loved camping at nearby favorite parks in TX and AR as well as during longer trips to different parts of the country.

As deep as his roots reached into Shreveport, he still embodied the saying, "Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?" Weekend road trips to visit the extended family there were frequent. Wilfred delighted in all things New Orleans and loved hearing about the many trips his children and grandchildren have made there.

A Funeral Mass is to be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Anniston Ave and Patton Ave, Shreveport at 10:30 am on Friday, April 12, 2024. Visitation with the family will follow at the St. Joseph Family Life Center, 211 Atlantic Ave, Shreveport.

Arrangements are being handled by Kilpatricks's Rose-Neath Funeral Homes, 1815 Marshall St., Shreveport, LA.

Donations to St. Joseph Church in lieu of flowers would be greatly appreciated.