Don W. Williams

Funeral services for Don W. Williams, 96, of Gilmer will be held at 10:00 A.M., on Monday, August 19, 2013, at the Gilmer Church of Christ with Dr. Rick Webb and Frank Breazeale officiating. Burial will follow at 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 on 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 WWII. 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, 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 #142 AF & 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; Paul David Williams and wife, Barbara all of Gilmer; daughters, Donna Williams Farris and husband, Gearald; 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), James, David, Lisa & Emily Sawyer. He is also survived by 22 great-grandchildren, Ashlyn & Wesley Williams, Melani & Paige Williams, Andi, Kate & Grace Baggett, Pack, Vivian & Mary Lauren Williams, Brett & Alexis Williams, Brianna, Christian & Cole Esquivel, Tyler & Olivia Pittenger, Will, Sydney & John Harris, Brooks & 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 & Brian Williams; and his nephews Mike Yarborough & John Stropp. The family will receive friends on Sunday, August, 18, from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to the Gilmer Church of Christ, P.O. Box 487, Gilmer, Texas, 75644 or the charity of your choice.