Earl Guyton Williamson Jr.

Earl Guyton Williamson, Jr.

Vivian, LA - Earl Guyton Williamson, Jr., put out his hand and touched the face of God on April 25, 2015, at the age of 91. He was born May 18, 1923, in Memphis, TN, and was a life-long resident of Vivian, LA. He was a 1940 graduate of Vivian High School and was a member of the team that won the state high school tennis championships. He went on to letter in tennis at Louisiana Normal College (Northwestern State University) and at Louisiana State University where he received his bachelor's degree in 1948. He served with distinction in the 8th Air Force's famous 91st Bombardment Group based in Bassingbourn, England in World War II, completing 30 daylight bombing missions over Germany in such famous B-17s as Hi-Ho Silver, Nine-O-Nine, Wee Willie, Chennault's Pappy, Little Miss Mischief, and surviving the crash landing of Blue Dreams. Excerpts from his diary of these 30 missions appeared in a 1994 issue of National Geographic. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross, four Air Medals, and other medals for service in some of the fiercest air campaigns in history. Earl came home from the war to fall in love with and marry Alice Louise Cochran of Vivian. They enjoyed life together for almost 65 years until her death in 2013. After the war, he took over Williamson Motors, his father's General Motors dealership and a cornerstone of the business community for 65 years in Vivian. He was active in the community as a member of the Lions Club, the American Legion for over 50 years, and was instrumental as president of the Vivian Industrial Development Board in bringing businesses and medical practitioners to the area. He was the longest serving member of the board of directors at North Caddo Medical Center (43 years). Earl simply enjoyed people and relished traveling the U.S. and the world with Alice. As important to him as the sights along the way, was visiting family and friends wherever they went. Whenever he could, he would while away Saturday afternoons fishing Caddo Lake for bass with his family. Along with his brother, James, he won many city tennis championships, often against much young foes. He was a central figure in the Pine Street Church of Christ, where he taught bible classes and served as elder for many decades. In his later years, he watched over operation of the church's Christian Center, serving the needy of the area. In so many ways, his life reflects why his is known as the Greatest Generation. His was a season forever of all things bright and brave and constant and true. We shall not see his like again. And for his family, thoughts go to a line from a John Masefield poem, "I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky. And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by…". For us, he was always that tall ship, that star we steered by. His greatest legacy was his love of family, church, and most of all, the Lord. We shall miss his smile.

Earl was preceded in death by his wife, Alice, and his parents, Earl Guyton Williamson, Sr., and Mamie and brother, James W. Williamson. Remaining to cherish his memory are daughter, Carolyn Warner of Bloomberg, Texas; son, Steven of Shreveport; daughter, Linda Hook and husband, Sol of Bossier City; son, Stan of Calhoun, LA; five grandchildren, Daniel Hook (Amy) of Tulsa, Oklahoma; Ryan Hook (Jamey) of Vivian; Hayley Mabry (Steven) of Shreveport; Mark Warner of New Orleans; and Anna Alexander (Randy) of Vivian; eight great grandchildren; sister, Jean Bright of Longview, TX; brother, David (Nancy) of Brownsburg, IN; Don (Rachel) of Shreveport, LA, Clayton (Nette) of Montgomery, TX, Ted (Connie) of Salado, TX; long-time family member, John Warner, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Honoring Earl, as pallbearers will be Guy Williamson, Randy Williamson, Kenny Cochran, Mac Hobbs, Mike Spearman and John Warner. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Spikes, Bill O'Daniel, Kenneth B. Cochran, Bobby Underwood, Will Weddell and Cal Downs.

The family wishes to thank longtime caregivers Terry Miller, Jo Anne Yeager and Lois Ford and Dr. Randall P. Brewer of Shreveport and Dr. Stephen Taylor and the nurses and staff of North Caddo Medical Center for their care during Earl's illness.

Funeral services celebrating the life of Earl will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, April 29, 2015 at the Pine Street Church of Christ, 900 N. Pine Street, Vivian, LA. Officiating will be nephew, Pastor Kevin Bright, assisted by Sol Hook and Ryan Hook. Interment will follow at the Vivian Cemetery. There will be a time of visitation on Tuesday, April 28th from 6-8 P.M. at Rose-Neath Funeral Home, 705 S. Spruce Street, Vivian, LA.