Bill Williams, 86, of Tryon Estates, Columbus, passed away on June 10, 2011 at the Hospice House of the Carolina Foothills.
Bill was born on December 4, 1924 in Johnstown, Penn., to Raymond Eugene Williams and Emaline Shaver Williams. He was a graduate of Westmont High School. Bill was a Marine Corps Sergeant during World War II, participating in both the Guam and Iwo Jima invasions.
After returning home, he began his career with Household Finance and married his bride of 64 years, Jean Mattern Williams. His career spanned 35 years until he retired in 1984 as a vice president.
Bill and Jean retired to Fairfield Bay, Ariz.,where he became a respected voice in the community. He was founding partner and board member of a new local bank. He was part of the committee that built the beautiful Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church in the Bay. As an active member of the Fairfield Bay Shrine Club, he helped guide the celebrity golf to raise funds for the Shriner Children’s Hospital. He also enjoyed 15 years of volunteer work with the Fairfield Bay rescue squad, driving an ambulance.
Throughout his life Bill was a religious man, loving husband and wonderful father. Survivors include his wife, Jean Mattern Williams; daughter, Cathy S. Berlin of Tryon; son, William B. Williams Jr. of Mills River, N.C.; grandson, Bryan J. Williams of San Mateo, Calif.; and sister, Jane Williams Lambing of Pacific Grove, Calif.
Memorial services will be held at 3 p.m. June 20, 2011 at Tryon Presbyterian Church.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations in Bill’s name be sent to the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Office of Development, 2900 Rocky Point Dr., Tampa, Fla. 33607 or to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, 130 Forest Glen Dr., Columbus, N.C. 28722.
An online guest register is available at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.
McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.