Billie Ray “Bill” Williams, 84, of Moundridge, Kansas, passed away
Saturday, January 21, 2023, at McPherson Hospital. He was born January 1,
1939, in Alton, Kansas, the son of Herald and Adeline (Stephenson)
Williams.
Bill graduated from Alton High School with the class of 1956.
He
enlisted in the United States Navy from 1956 until 1978, serving during
the Vietnam War. Bill attained the rank of Storekeeper First Class. He
served his country for 22 years.
After his military retirement in
1978, Bill started working as a civilian contractor until leaving
Sasebo, Japan, in 1989. He later worked for the Osborne and Concordia
School districts where he drove the bus for school and activity runs
until 1999. Bill began working as a janitor for the Alton Jr. High
School, as well as activity bus runs, officially retiring in 2002.
He
was a member of the United Christian Church of Osborne. Bill was a
lifetime member of the VFW in Osborne and a member of the American
Legion in Alton.
Bill was married in 1977 to Yoko whom he met in
Sasebo. They were married until her death from breast cancer in 1985. He
was later united in marriage to his forever partner, Carolyn J. Freeman
on January 7, 1991, at the Osborne Christian Church. She survives of the
home.
Other survivors include his children Kelly Dean Dyche of
Moundridge, and Christian Heidi (Rob) Bolton of Alden; six
grandchildren, Laura Vitanova, Courtney Johnson, Jessica Dyche,
Elizabeth Dyche, Eric Hostetler and Emma Bolton; and six
great-grandchildren.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; eight brothers and one sister; and his previous wife.
Cremation
is planned. Memorial services will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, April
15, 2023, at Alton United Methodist Church, 408 Mill St., Alton.
Memorial contributions may be made to Moundridge Senior Center in care of Moundridge Funeral Home, P.O. Box 410, Moundridge, KS 67107.