Ralph Williams

Ralph Williams Battle Creek Ralph Williams, 84 years of age, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on August 23, 2008. Ralph passed from this life at the Battle Creek Veterans Affairs Medical Center, where he resided for the past two years. He was born in Jasper, Alabama to James and Viola (Roddam) Williams on August 13, 1924. He was raised in Jasper, AL, where he was a 1943 graduate of Curry High School. One month prior to his graduation, he was drafted by the U.S. Army and received his diploma in the mail. Ralph was proud to serve his country during WWII in Germany and France and was discharged as a corporal. Because of injuries sustained while serving his country, he never had a chance to fulfill his dream of playing professional football. He came to Battle Creek as a patient at Percy Jones General Hospital. Ralph graduated from Argubright Business College in 1960, was employed at Percy Jones and continued to work at the Federal Center until 1968. In 1968 he transferred to the Battle Creek V.A. Medical Center where he worked in the Supply Division until retiring in 1976. Ralph was united in marriage to Anna Mae Walsh on August 24, 1946. After retiring in 1976, Ralph and Anna Mae returned to Jasper, AL to make their home for 30 years. Due to health reasons Ralph moved back to Battle Creek in 2006, to be cared for by his nieces, Kathy Kincaid and Kaylene Woods. Ralph was preceded in death by Anna Mae, his wife of 39 years on December 9, 1985; by his parents, two brothers, Nelson and Herbert Williams; his sister, Pauline Ashby, a niece, Maryann Muirhead; and a nephew, Leslie Kincaid. Surviving are his sister, Gladys Hill of Pueblo, CO; two nieces, Kaylene (Gary) Woods and Kathryn Kincaid, both of Battle Creek; a great niece, Michelle (Randy) O'Neil of Battle Creek; great nephews, Jack (Patricia) Kincaid of Spring Valley, CA and Timothy (Becky) Woods of Climax. Ralph would visit Battle Creek during the summers and would visit his niece Kay at Woods Pools, where he became friends with many of the customers. Ralph never met a person he didn't call his friend. He loved bird-watching, the outdoors, and the big gardens he cared for while living in Battle Creek. Ralph was a devoted Catholic for over 60 years and a member of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Jasper; and St. Joseph Catholic Church in Battle Creek, where he was a former president of the Legion of Mary. At the request of the family, friends may call after 2:00 p.m. today (Tuesday) at the Farley-Estes & Dowdle Funeral Home where they will be received 2:00-4:00 and 6:00-8:00 p.m. and where the Rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated by Fr. Craig J. Lusk at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 10:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 27, 2008. Military honors will be provided by Ft. Custer Honor Guard at Ft. Custer National Cemetery. Visitation and services will also be held in Jasper, Alabama, where Ralph will be laid to rest at Walker Memory Gardens. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association or to the American Diabetes Association; or a Mass may be offered in memory of Ralph at a Catholic Church of your choice. Personal messages for the family may be placed at www.farleyestesdowdle. com.