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Roll Call Tribute
Don Williams '38 August 19, 2013 9:05 AM
Published in Longview News-Journal on August 18, 2013
Don W. Williams
GILMER — Funeral services for Don W. Williams, 96, of Gilmer, will be 10 a.m. Monday, August 19, 2013, at Gilmer Church of Christ, with Dr. Rick Webb and Frank Breazeale officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. Mr. Williams passed away Friday, August 16, 2013, in Longview.
He was born April 6, 1917, in the Rosewood Community of Upshur County, Texas, to P.K. and Sally Myrtle Turner Williams. He graduated from Gilmer High School, was a 1938 graduate of Texas A&M and a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was the owner of Gilmer Lumber Company and a member of the Gilmer Church of Christ.
Mr. Williams was active in the community, serving in the Gilmer Rotary Club, Past President of the East Texas Yamboree Association and Director and Past President of the board of the First National Bank. He also served on the board of Robroy Industries for 26 years. Mr. Williams was the co-founder of Gilmer Industrial Foundation and served on the Board of Directors at the Gilmer Country Club.
He was a Master Mason of Bethesda Lodge No. 142 AF and AM of which he earned a 65-year membership pin. He also was a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite and Shrine.
Mr. Williams is survived by his sons, Steve Williams and wife, Lynn and Paul David Williams and wife, Barbara, all of Gilmer; daughters, Donna Williams Farris and husband, Gearald and Nancy Williams Sawyer and husband, Jim, all of Longview; sister, Sarah Williams Conger of San Antonio; grandchildren, Scott Williams, Todd Williams (Rebekah), Eric Williams (Kim), Greg Williams, Brian Williams (Irma), Tracy Williams, Cynthia Pittenger (Todd), Sara Farris, Jennifer Harris (Scott), Amy Brown (Jeff) and James, David, Lisa and Emily Sawyer.
He is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Wesley Williams, Melani and Paige Williams, Andi, Kate and Grace Baggett, Pack, Vivian and Mary Lauren Williams, Brett and Alexis Williams, Brianna, Christian and Cole Esquivel, Tyler and Olivia Pittenger, Will, Sydney and John Harris and Brooks and Ella Brown.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Mattie Ruth Stropp Williams; and his sister, Virginia Williams Rounsaville.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Scott, Eric, Todd, Greg and Brian Williams and his nephews, Mike Yarborough and John Stropp.
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. today, August, 18, 2013, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Gilmer Church of Christ, P.O. Box 487, Gilmer, TX 75644 or the charity of your choice .
Please leave online condolences at www.croleyfh.net
Don W. Williams
GILMER — Funeral services for Don W. Williams, 96, of Gilmer, will be 10 a.m. Monday, August 19, 2013, at Gilmer Church of Christ, with Dr. Rick Webb and Frank Breazeale officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Park under the direction of Croley Funeral Home in Gilmer. Mr. Williams passed away Friday, August 16, 2013, in Longview.
He was born April 6, 1917, in the Rosewood Community of Upshur County, Texas, to P.K. and Sally Myrtle Turner Williams. He graduated from Gilmer High School, was a 1938 graduate of Texas A&M and a veteran of the U.S. Navy during World War II. He was the owner of Gilmer Lumber Company and a member of the Gilmer Church of Christ.
Mr. Williams was active in the community, serving in the Gilmer Rotary Club, Past President of the East Texas Yamboree Association and Director and Past President of the board of the First National Bank. He also served on the board of Robroy Industries for 26 years. Mr. Williams was the co-founder of Gilmer Industrial Foundation and served on the Board of Directors at the Gilmer Country Club.
He was a Master Mason of Bethesda Lodge No. 142 AF and AM of which he earned a 65-year membership pin. He also was a member of the Scottish Rite and York Rite and Shrine.
Mr. Williams is survived by his sons, Steve Williams and wife, Lynn and Paul David Williams and wife, Barbara, all of Gilmer; daughters, Donna Williams Farris and husband, Gearald and Nancy Williams Sawyer and husband, Jim, all of Longview; sister, Sarah Williams Conger of San Antonio; grandchildren, Scott Williams, Todd Williams (Rebekah), Eric Williams (Kim), Greg Williams, Brian Williams (Irma), Tracy Williams, Cynthia Pittenger (Todd), Sara Farris, Jennifer Harris (Scott), Amy Brown (Jeff) and James, David, Lisa and Emily Sawyer.
He is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren, Ashlyn and Wesley Williams, Melani and Paige Williams, Andi, Kate and Grace Baggett, Pack, Vivian and Mary Lauren Williams, Brett and Alexis Williams, Brianna, Christian and Cole Esquivel, Tyler and Olivia Pittenger, Will, Sydney and John Harris and Brooks and Ella Brown.
He was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Mattie Ruth Stropp Williams; and his sister, Virginia Williams Rounsaville.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, Scott, Eric, Todd, Greg and Brian Williams and his nephews, Mike Yarborough and John Stropp.
The family will receive friends 6-8 p.m. today, August, 18, 2013, at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Gilmer Church of Christ, P.O. Box 487, Gilmer, TX 75644 or the charity of your choice .
Please leave online condolences at www.croleyfh.net
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