Irvin Williams

Veterans Day, 2009, Lt. Colonel Irvin L. Williams, age 81, of Tyler, Texas passed away and went to be with the Lord. Services to celebrate the life of this dedicated patriot will be held on Saturday, November 14th at 1:30 p.m. at Stewart Family Funeral Home with Dr. David Dykes officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Lt. Colonel Williams was born on October 4, 1928 in Winchendon, Massachusetts to Carlos and Lenora Williams and was reared in Jaffrey, New Hampshire. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire in 1950 and an M.S. in Air Ordnance Engineering from the U.S.A.F. Institute of Technology in 1957. He served forty-two years in government service including twenty in the U.S. Air Force and an additional twenty-two at the Atomic Energy Commission and Department of Energy in Germantown, Maryland. He received numerous awards for his service including the Air Force Legion of Merit. He and his wife, Mary, of 58 years, spent their retirement years in Pinehurst, North Carolina before moving to Tyler in 2007. They were members of the Adult SMBS at Green Acres Baptist Church. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his loving family including his daughter, Sherrill Echols, and her spouse, Jim Echols of Tyler and his son, Kirk Williams, and his wife Miriam of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. His other survivors are his brother, Lou Williams of Santa Anna, California, five grandchildren including Kimberly Graft and her spouse Aaron Graft of Dallas, Jimmy Echols and his wife Lindsay of Richmond, Texas, Barret Williams of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Seth Williams of Pensacola, Florida and Sarah Williams of Pensacola. He is also survived by two great grandchildren, Aaron James and Clara Louise Graft. Pallbearers will include Jimmy Echols, Seth Williams, Barret Williams, Aaron Graft, Randy Austin and John Evans. Visitation is scheduled from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. on November 13th at the Stewart Family Funeral Home, Tyler, Texas. Memorials in honor of Lt. Colonel Williams may be made to the Disabled American Veterans Association or a church/charity of your choice.

Irvin Williams

October 4, 1928 - November 11, 2009