Billie Williams

BILLIE E. "REED" WILLIAMS 8/26/1922 ~ 11/8/2010 An 86 year resident of San Bernardino and more recently of Riverside, Billie E. "Reed" Williams passed away on Monday November 8, 2010 at the age of 88. A loving, gentle but independent woman of significant accomplishment she leaves behind her youngest and devoted son of 60 years, Tim, grandsons Derek and Adrian, granddaughters Anna, Elizabeth and Kristen and six great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by the love and light of her life, her husband of 67 years, Walter. Born in North English, Iowa she moved west at age two with her parents and sister, Geraldine, settling in Highland, California. Growing up among the orange groves of east Highland she attended San Bernardino High School graduating with highest honors in 1940. Following graduation she attended San Bernardino Valley College and while a student there met, at a school sponsored dance, a soldier stationed at Camp Hahn in Riverside, a soldier she would later marry and with whom she would spend the rest of her life. In 1942 she married Walter R. Williams, originally of Rochester, Minnesota, with whom she moved to Florida while Walter attended OCS and Flight School where he emerged in late 1942 as a pilot and Second Lieutenant in the Army Air Corp. He shipped out to Europe serving in the 56th Fighter Group until late 1945. During this time she lived with her parents in Highland and worked at Norton Air Force Base. When Walter returned they started a family having a son, Michael, in 1947 and another son, Timothy, in 1950. Now living in San Bernardino she returned to school in 1957 attending the University of California Riverside, graduating in 1959 and attaining her teaching credential in 1960. For the next twenty-two years she taught elementary school in the San Bernardino Unified School District. After retirement she and Wally traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and Europe, but they especially enjoyed their many summers spent in their trailer on Big Bear Lake where they fished, walked and enjoyed the leisure time gained from the fruits of their many years of labor. They were passionate regulars for many years at the various sports games of their sons and grandsons, from pee-wee football through high school football and baseball. Billie will be greatly missed greatly by all who knew and loved her. Her great intellect, her passion for life and for her family set her apart. She will be passing on into the next life beloved by all. Billie\'s memorial service and burial will take place at Riverside National Cemetery, alongside her husband on Wednesday November 24 at 10:30 AM, Staging Area 3.