Reverend Van's Obituary
Van Williams, Sr., son of Paul Williams and Maude Roy Williams, was born on February 1, 1918. He departed this life Saturday August 5, 2006, in Delmar Gardens on the Green in Chesterfield, Missouri, at the age of eighty-eight years, six months and four days. On November 19, 1937, he was united in marriage to Ada Juanita Reed, and to this union three sons and three daughters were born. He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers, Herman, Audrey, Howard and Amos; two sisters, Rose and Myrtle; and a step-grandson, Travis Query. Van is survived by his wife, Juanita, of Ozark, Missouri; three sons; Philip Williams, and his wife, Leota, of Warsaw, Missouri, Stephan Williams, and his wife, Sherry, of Springfield, Missouri and Van Williams, Jr., and his wife, Debra, of West Plains, Missouri; three daughters; Carol Merritt, and her husband, Homer, of Sparta, Missouri, Donna Green, and her husband, Bill, of Sikeston, Missouri, and Trudy Williams, of Ballwin, Missouri; thirteen grandchildren and seventeen great-grandchildren. Van was born in Mansfield and spent most of his childhood there. While working in Oklahoma, he met Juanita on August 5, 1937. Van and Juanita then returned to Mansfield where they were united in marriage and shortly thereafter started their family with their first two children, Philip and Carol, being born there. They then moved to Kansas where Donna, Stephan and Van, Jr. were born. They later moved to Bradleyville where their youngest child, Trudy, was born. Van was a brick mason by trade and a by-vocational minister. The family also lived in the Ava and Ozark communities, where Van would often preach in various churches. “Old Willie”, as he was referred to by his family and friends, enjoyed collecting antique dishes, and in his spare time enjoyed photography, writing and hunting with his sons and grandsons. Van was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, and was a caring neighbor and friend. We celebrate his life and accomplishments and will treasure the memories he has created for his family and friends. Services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, August 9, 2006, in the Holman-Howe Chapel, Mansfield. Burial will be in the Mansfield Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until service time. Services are under the direction of Holman-Howe Funeral Home of Mansfield, Missouri.
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