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Dwaine Williams Obituary

DWAINE
WILLIAMS, 72
Ace Mechanic

Lakeland - Dwaine Williams died Sun, 10/21/07, from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Survived by his wife, Jill, a son Jerry and a daughter Crissy. We will miss him more than we think. Service are Saturday 10 in Madison. Call Beggs Funeral Home at 850-973-2258.

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Published by The Ledger on Oct. 26, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Dwaine Williams

Sponsored by Charlie Linenfelser.

25 Entries

Charles Linenfelser

October 19, 2024

Hello ole friend. You were one of a kind (in two ways)
Charlie

Charles D Linenfelser

July 10, 2023

Roy if you are coming to this site I would love to hear from you. I would leave my phone number but it is probably not permitted. Charlie Linenfelser Roanoke, VA

September 3, 2015

had no idea he gave me a leg up on my first bike he tricked it out if I would race it fastest steet legal bike in polk county this was early seventies at speed n sport he also tought me how to work on it very giving man I will miss him ride on in the sky dwaine

Rob Greggs

February 23, 2013

Dwaine and I were very good friends and I am deeply saddened that I cant just stop in or pick up the phone to talk with him. Ive learned alot from Dwaine about motorcycles,cylinder head porting , people and life . He introduced me to country music at his combee rd.shop. Customers would often gather after normal shop hours to talk about motorcycles and their ambitions . I bought a motorcycle in the summer of 1986 . The previous owner introduced me to Dwaine. He took off those reading glasses and was wiping the sweat off his brow with his sleeve. We started talking and that was the beginning of a great friendship. If I wasnt at work , you could find me at the shop. .Dwaine stopped by the house one morning and asked me to open the shop ,while he drove to the coast to do some soul searching. My day job at the time wasnt very interesting, so one day,I called my boss and said I wasnt comming in ...ever. Dwaines customers were from all walks of life with the common bond of motorcycles .They would flock to his shop and many days turned to nights. As we all know , he knew how to tune a motorcycle for speed and riders came from every where for his time and tuning expertize. (and I wanted to learn all I could) I moved to Pennsylvania to be closer to family but would talk for countless hours on the phone . I would still visit Dwaine and Chrissy in Madison every few years and it never felt right leaving . We talked about some country singers and song writers and he told me storys of his family life and a girl from his childhood .We laughed and had a few beers.He wrote poems "thats what song are " I remember him telling me. Dwaines spirit lives on . Many people are better off now because of Dwaine. When he reached retirement age, he sent his social security checks back and told them he didnt need them. So greatful and blessed to have known and learned from such a great friend. Dwaine encouraged me to read , to be observant ,and to experiment with ideas. Im very greatful .

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

Dwaine composed several poems which I have saved in Jpeg format. If anyone wants them e-mailed I will be most happy to do so. I have posted some of his poems on this site. But you are allowed 10 and I didn't want to tie up space in case someone else had pictures to upload. Dwaine's friend Charlie Linenfelser

Dwaine's brother Roy with Chrissy

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

Dwaine acting silly

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

Young Dwaine at AFB

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

poem by Dwaine Williams "Perfection"

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

Dwaine with his Norton

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

poem by Dwaine Williams "The time has come'

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

poem by Dwaine Williams "Love"

Charlie Linenfelser

December 25, 2010

This is about Crissy who was left behind

Dwaine Williams

December 25, 2010

Charlie Linenfelser

July 6, 2008

I just heard the awful news about Dwaine. What a sad day for all who knew him. He was such a human treasure. I remember well the days racing with Dwaine in Florida. I'll never forget one of his mishaps at Dade City, FL track when he fell in one of the first heat races and tore open his elbow. I took him to the local hospital for treatment and watched the doctors irrigate his open wound and finish up with several stitches. We returned to the track and he told me that maybe I should ride the Suzuki 250cc that he had tuned for a friend and had brought to the track to see how well his tuning turned out. He said he wanted to save himself for the open competition riding his Norton. He never seemed to be concerned for himself. As it turned out the Suzuki didn't want to start so the racers took off without me. Someone said lets try push starting and that did the trick.

I was so hot wearing those black leathers in the searing Florida heat that I was just happy to cool off riding around the track never dreaming that I could compete in the race. Well I was in for a big surprise. Dwaine had welded up an expansion chamber (that was new high tech stuff at the time) and milled the head on this 250cc along with some carburetor work and when I opened the throttle the bike nearly come over top of me. I had never experienced such power with this size engine. In about four laps I had caught up with the rear of the pack and would just ride through the corners waiting for the straight sections and just fly by the others. I forget how many laps it took to fall in behind the leaders but it wasn't long until I whizzed past them on the long downhill straight away. Dwaine and his brother Roy were positioned at the top of the down hill and that's where I wanted to pass the leaders. Big mistake! This was the first time I really held open the throttle and before I could react the engine seized and I went over the handlebars. Oh, I forgot to tell you that the owner of the Suzuki didn't know we were racing it. When we got back to Miami we called Billy (owner) and leveled with him what we had done. Of course the Suzuki was not in the best of shape after sliding down the asphalt several hundred feet. To our surprise, he asked "how did it run". When he found out that the bike had caught up with the pack he was elated. Nothing else was said.

Dwaine's home spun philosophy made me laugh when he said he never tuned his bike listening to anyone that finished the race behind him. Because Dwaine did more listening, than talking, he observed the world around him. He took careful notes of his observations and they served him (and others) well. Dwaine could extract more from a motorcycle engine than what most believed possible. I remember the other racers saying that the only chance they had winning the race was if Dwaine's engine blew up from over exertion from his expert tuning skills. I'll never forget the story he told me about a Kirby vacuum cleaner salesman that was showing his wife Jill the latest model in their living room. Dwaine was in the garage working on his Norton 750 cc peering obligatorily thru the interconnecting doorway uninterested in the whole affair until the salesman showed him the grinder attachment. Dwaine said he needed a grinder at that very moment so he purchased the vacuum on the spot.

Dwaine and I have been separated by geography (him in FL and me in VA) for over thirty-five years. But, I could call him on the phone after not talking to him for three years and just start talking as though we had hung up yesterday.

I will miss those calls.

Your friend always.

Charlie

Karsten Illg

October 31, 2007

My condolences and respect to Dwaine and his family. We enjoyed the company of Dwaine and Chrissy at Talledega this year. He was an inspiration to all racers and enthusiasts alike. We will miss him

Meg Worthley

October 27, 2007

Sending all my love and prayers to you and your family. Enjoy your peace and tell Daddy I said hi and I love him. I will remember and think of you both now.
Love, Meg (Pete Martin's daughter)

Freddie Klies

October 27, 2007

Sorry to hear of his loss. My best condolences to the remaining family members.

Freddie Klies
www.easterncycleperf.com

Walter Timblin

October 27, 2007

Thanks for all the times on the phone talking with me .And for all the help in the racing circle. So many people will miss you. God Speed Dwaine

Warren Holzhauser

October 26, 2007

Dwaine,

I will remember you as a racer, a teacher, a philosopher, a poet, a father and good friend that always made me smile. You were one of the few that loved what you did and did what you loved. I am honored to be your friend.

Joe Lewis

October 26, 2007

Godspeed Dwaine,
Thanks for all the enthusiasm and devotion to the racing community...couldn't have done it without you. You've got some fast company up there, show 'em what an 850 Commando can do.

Mike Kirkland

October 26, 2007

Going to miss you Dwain, at least now you are riding again in a better place, no rain, no cold, just open track.

Jerry Jones

October 26, 2007

My sympathy to your loss

cassandra hernandez

October 26, 2007

Dear Dwaine,
May you have a peaceful after life in heaven. May you and GOD watch over your family.
R.I.P.

RJ Reynolds

October 26, 2007

Thanks Partner for all the selfless time you devoted to our sport. I am proud to have known you and shared a little time with you. I have never known a more honest and sincere person.
GODSPEED

Kenny Cummings

October 25, 2007

Rest In Peace, Dwaine.

You will be missed, but you won't be forgotten. My heart goes out to Chrissy and will do everything we can to look out for her.

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