Obituaries

James Raymond Williams

Photo of James Raymond Williams
James Raymond Williams, age 93, a resident of London, Arkansas, went to be with his Heavenly Father on August 23, 2010, at Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center in Russellville. He passed on quickly and peacefully. He was born August 20, 1917, in Nodaway, Iowa to Ezra Charles and Ada Marie Rittenour Williams. He graduated from Rock Island High School, Rock Island, Illinois in 1936. He married his high school sweetheart, Iris Lloyd, May 26, 1941, in St. Paul, Minnesota. In August of that year, he enlisted in the United States Army and served 38 months in Europe during World War II with Company "C", 820th Aviation Army Engineers, 82nd Airborne Division. He jumped from "a perfectly good airplane" onto the beach at Normandy, France on D Day. Jim also fought in the Battle of the Bulge and was proud to be part of the liberation of the Jews from the Nazis at Dachau Concentration Camp. After the war, he returned home and was employed in the mill working industry in Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa and Arkansas. In Little Rock, he was vice president and general manager of Bruce Flooring and was the first personnel manager at Morton Frozen Foods in Russellville. He and Iris built and were the administrators of Legacy Lodge Nursing Home until his retirement. Jim was an avid fisherman and hunter and taught his children and grandchildren to love God's beautiful creation. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Lois Galbraith; and a son, Gary Charles Williams. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Iris Williams; his sons, James L. Williams of London and David A. Williams of North Little Rock, Arkansas; a daughter, Aleta Mattingly of Everton, Arkansas; a son-in-law, Jim Mattingly of Blair, Nebraska; a daughter-in-law, Bonnie Williams of Pleasanton, California; 11 grandchildren, Raymond Williams, Jeremy Williams, Jennifer Buttram, Joanna Gauthier, Joshua Williams, Isaac Williams, Laura Mattingly, Hannah Williams, Zane Mattingly, Matthew Williams, and Johnny Mattingly; and 10 great-grandchildren. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, August 28, 2010, at Rest Haven Memorial Park in Russellville with Mr. Raymond Walton officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Rogers-Rye V. F. W. Post 2283 and Bugles Across America. Arrangements are under the direction of Shinn Funeral Service, Russellville, Arkansas. Pallbearers will be Kenneth and Kevin Waller, Jeremy Williams, Isaac Williams, Zane and Johnny Mattingly, and Mike Ratzlaff. Visitation will be from 5:30 – 7 p.m. on Friday at the funeral home. The online obituary and guestbook are available at www.shinnfuneral.com.

Published August 27, 2010

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