Raymond Peter Williams Jr.

Raymond Peter Williams, Jr. Raymond Peter Williams, Jr., age 86, of Manassas, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, September 4, 2010.

He was born on February 22, 1924 in Alton, VA to the late Raymond Peter Williams and Sadie Adams Williams. He worked on his father's tobacco farm along with his siblings until 1943. He graduated from Turbeville Agricultural High School in 1942. He was inducted into the United States Army in 1943. During WWII, he served with the US Third Army, 80th Infantry Division, 633rd Anti Aircraft Artillery Automatic Weapons Battalion.

He saw action from Normandy (D-Day plus 5) thru the end of the war, including the Battle of the Bulge. He earned 5 Battle Stars, Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe, the American Theater Service Ribbon, the European, African, Middle Eastern Service Ribbon, the WWII Victory Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal. He gladly received his Honorable Discharge on November 20, 1945.

On June 13, 1959 he married the late Mattie Collie of Calvary, Halifax County, VA. They were married for 48 years. He worked for the United States Postal Service for 34 years at National and Dulles international Airports. He was also a 46 year member of Manassas Presbyterian Church.

He was preceded in death by his brothers George Williams and John Williams; sisters, Nell Williams, Louise Williams, Essie Mae Phelps, Margaret Edmundson, Kathleen Granger, Laura Boaz and Grace Williams. Survivors include his brother James R. Williams of Vienna, sisters, Virginia Jones of South Boston, and Betty Stacy of Cary, NC; son Peter Williams of Manassas; daughters, Ellen McEldowney and her husband, John of Charleston, WV and Penny Abernathy and her husband, Eric of Bristow; granddaughter, Brooke Abernathy; grandsons, Nate Abernathy and John McEldowney; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 from 6:00-8:00 PM at Found and Sons Lee Funeral Chapel, 8521 Sudley Road, Manassas, VA 20109. Funeral service will be on Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 10:00 AM at Manassas Presbyterian Church, 8201 Ashton Avenue, Manassas, VA 20109. Interment to follow at Quantico National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Capital Hospice, 10530 Linden Lake Drive, Suite 100, Manassas, VA 20109 or to the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Home, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, VA 24528. Online condolences may be made to Raymond's family at www.foundandsons.com



This obituary was originally published in the News & Messenger (Woodbridge, VA).