John B. Williams Jr.
John B. Williams Jr., (Junior) age 87, of Uniontown, Pa., passed away on Monday morning, May 21, 2007, in the… John B. Williams Jr., (Junior) age 87, of Uniontown, Pa., passed away on Monday morning, May 21, 2007, in the Uniontown Hospital.
He was born April 14, 1920, in Uniontown, Pa., the son of the late John B. Williams Sr. and Violet Leib Will-iams.
John graduated from the Union-town Area Senior High School.
John was a veteran of the United States Army who served during World War II . He served a total of 23 months in the Army. He spent 18 months on Luzon with the 4.2 Chemical Mortar Battalion. His outfit was on the boat ready for Japan when the bomb was dropped at Hiroshima.
John was active in many different fund raising events throughout the years, especially the March of Dimes. He was a Boy Scout committee chairman at Oliver Three for several years. He was a lifetime member of Lemont Sportsman’s Club, North Union Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8543, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47 in Uniontown.
John was one of the few remaining drayman in this area. He was in the trucking business with his father before he graduated from high school. His father started his moving business with horse and wagon under the name of J.B. Williams Transfer, which is now known as Parks Moving and Storage. He continued in business with his father until 1945 and became a certified moving consultant with Parks Moving and Storage. He retired from from Parks in 1985 after 45 years of service. He helped move the Kaufmann family from Pittsburgh to Fallingwater in the late 1930’s.
John was a dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was referred to by all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren as “Pappy Will.”
He was a neighborhood friend. He loved to cook and was known for his “famous” spaghetti sauce. He loved woodworking and spent many hours in his shop producing beautiful furniture and artwork. After his wife passed away, he found a new hobby and became a gifted winemaker.
John was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 57 years, Gladys Mae Henderson Williams, sister, Madolyn Williams Ries, brother, Edwin Williams and granddaughter, Annette Marie Williams.
He is survived by his loving and devoted children: John R. Williams and his wife, Dorine, Donald L. Williams and his wife, Connie, Edward A. Williams, and Cathy L. Baird and her husband, Dr. Richard K. Baird, all of Uniontown, Pa., and Jay B. Williams and his wife, Patty, of Hopwood, Pa.; Grandchildren: Donald Williams, Bryan Williams and wife Jean and Kellie Williams Gilleland and her husband, Eric, John C. Williams and his wife, Nancy, Jamie Brown and her companion, Todd Weston, Nicole Brown, Tyler Williams, Brandon Williams, Zachary Williams and Kimberly Williams; Step-Grandsons: Justin Baird and his wife, Missy, and Jonathan Baird and Laura and their children; Great- Grandchildren: Hannah Williams, Mia Williams and Luke Williams, Riley Gilleland, Carson Gilleland, Levi Gilleland and Cooper Gilleland, Miranda Williams, Matthew Williams and Kortney Weston.
John is also survived by brothers and sisters: Arthur Williams of Pittsburgh, Pa., Gladys Marker of North Carolina, Betty Liston of Columbus, Ohio, Donnie Williams of South Carolina, Helen Joyce Huntington of Columbus, Ohio, Tommy Williams of Uniontown, Pa., and Gary Williams of Uniontown, Pa.; and several loving nieces and nephews.
Friends will be received in the KEZMARSKY FUNERAL HOME, 71 Pennsylvania Avenue, Uniontown, Pa., today, May 23, 2007, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m and Thursday morning, May 24, 2007, until 10 a.m. when Funeral Services will be held with the Rev. Art Mace officiating.
Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery where Military Honors will be accorded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 47.