Mr. Ralph Walter Williams

Mr. Ralph Walter WilliamsFuneral services for Ralph Williams, 90, of Kilgore, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, January 2, 2014 at Victory Funeral Services Chapel with Rev. Eric Love and Rev. Randy Ross officiating. Burial will follow on Friday, January 3, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery in Dallas, Texas. Arrangements are under the direction of Victory Funeral Services. Ralph was born September 24, 1923 to Jacob and Seleaner Perkins Williams at Brusly, Louisiana in West Baton Rouge Parish. He departed this life on Wednesday, December 25, 2013 at Good Shepherd Medical Center in Longview, Texas.   In 1943, he entered the United States Army and was honorably discharged as a Corporal in 1946. While enlisted he became a noted carpenter and dry cleaner. After his discharge he settled in Los Angeles, California and while attending UCLA, he met and married Dorothy Nell Roy on January 9, 1949. He was employed by the Los Angeles Waterworks District for 30 years and retired in 1981.   He was educated at Lukeville Elementary School in West Baton Rouge Parish with completion through seventh grade, the highest level attainable at that time. Having held serious concerns regarding education, he also attended Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, University of California, Los Angeles and participated in education training under the WPA Program of which he said was the best thing that his parents, out of hardship, allowed him to attend.   Of the many things, Ralph loved to complete cross word puzzles, especially very complex ones. He would burn the midnight oil until the last word was found. He also enjoyed reading comic books and listening to opera and classical music. His melodious voice was an asset to his church work. His love for singing resulted in his membership in the church choir as well as in a Los Angeles based Men’s Quartet and Male Chorus. His parents, two sisters, Fuddy and Coetter and brothers, Sherman, Nathan, Widmon and Calvin all preceded him in death.   Those that remain to cherish his memory are his wife of 64 years, Dorothy Nell Williams of Kilgore, TX; son, Billy Foster of Salem, OR; granddaughters and spouse, Phyllis Foster and Dorothy “Dot” and Elvis Reeves all of Kilgore, TX; nieces, Grace M. Watson and Marylin M. Guillory both of Baton Rouge, LA, Verna M. Bynum and Deloris M. Woods both of Marin City, CA, and Rose M. Miller of Novata, CA, five great grandchildren, seven great-great grandchildren and a host of other relatives.   Public viewing will be Wednesday, January 1, 2014, starting at noon until 5 p.m. at Victory Funeral Services.