Francis J. Williams, 95, of Fountain City, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 18 at Reid Health.
Francis was born in Wayne County, Indiana’s Clay Township on August 21, 1926 to Joseph W. & Elsie L. Frame Williams. He graduated from Fountain City High School in 1944. Francis was a US Army veteran of World War Two. He married the former Mary Lucille Meyers on May 28, 1947. They were blessed with three children and nearly 64 years of marriage before her death on April 3, 2011. Francis and Mary co-founded and operated Williams Floor & Tile, Williams Quality Carpets and Williams Appliances & Gifts. Francis was always active in his community. He was a Charter Member of the Fountain City Lions Club and the Levi Coffin House Association. He served as President of the former Fountain City Businessmen’s Association and was a 37-year member of the Fountain City Volunteer Fire Department. He served on committees in preparation for the 1976 National Bicentennial and the 1984 Fountain City Sesquicentennial. He served on the Willow Grove Cemetery Association board. He also was instrumental in the establishment of the Northeastern Senior Center and helped deliver Meals on Wheels. He took pride in the community and enjoyed driving around town frequently to see what was going on. In 2015, he flew to Washington, DC as part of Honor Flight to see the World War Two Monument on the National Mall.
Francis will be missed by his children, Shirley Livesay & her husband, Claude; Jerry Williams & his wife, Joni; and Marilyn Lyons; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. Francis was preceded in death by his parents, wife, Mary Williams; granddaughter, Jennifer Williams; son-in-law, Peter Lyons; sisters Maxine Williams and Anna Marie Draver; brother, Earl Williams.
A funeral ceremony will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 23, at the Smith-McQuiston & Webster Funeral Home, 321 US 27 South, Fountain City. Interment will follow in Willow Grove Cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Wayne County Honor Guard. Visitation for Francis will be from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, July 22, and 10-11 a.m. on Saturday, July 23 at the funeral home. Indiana Volunteer Firefighter’s Association will conduct a memorial service at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 22 at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are encouraged for the Fountain City Fire Department, PO Box 405, Fountain City, IN 47341; the Town of Fountain City Memorial Gazebo, PO Box 312, Fountain City, IN 47341 or the Levi Coffin House Association, PO Box 77, Fountain City, IN 47341. Online condolences may be expressed at www.smithmcquistonwebster.com .