Walter Joseph "Bud" Williams

Bud Williams Walter Joseph "Bud" Williams was blessed by our Lord to pass away peacefully in his sleep on August 4, 2012 at the age of 94 at his home in Visalia, California. He was born to Walter and Laura Williams in Girardville, Pennsylvania on April 27, 1918. He now has been greeted by many loved ones and friends who have gone before who will help him as he adjusts to his heavenly home. His only brother, Harry, has welcomed his "little buddy", a nickname that lasted a lifetime. Bud was deeply loved by his family and will be greatly missed. He left this world knowing that God and his family loved him. Bud was a WWII veteran who served in Europe with the Ninth Army. He joined the army on February 4, 1942. On June 21, 1942, while on furlough in Pennsylvania, Bud married his sweetheart, Irene Luke. After thirteen months service in Europe, he returned to the states on leave with orders to go to the South Pacific. Fortunately, while he was at home, VJ Day was declared and the war with Japan ended. Bud was honorably discharged from the army on October 3, 1945 and awarded a Bronze Star Medal and an EAMET Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars. Bud and Irene decided to make their home in San Jose. From 1946 to 1983, Bud worked in the fields of farm equipment and automotive parts as a salesman and a purchasing agent and for 25 years he was the manager of a parts department. After retirement, they moved to Oaktree Estates in Visalia in 1991. Once again the Lord blessed Bud and Irene with over twenty years of community fellowship and meaningful friends at Oaktree Estates. Many of these friends helped Bud and Irene celebrate 70 years of marriage in June, 2012, at a luncheon at the Lamplighter Inn. Bud enjoyed all his family and friends and felt the love extended to him at the luncheon. Looking back, the party was also a meaningful "farewell" to him and a celebration of his life. Bud was loved and respected by many and was often referred to as "such a gentleman". He was always very polite and friendly to everyone, but his family also knew him to be a very "gentle man". He was easy-going, soft spoken and always willing to help a friend. Bud was a great mechanic and excelled at woodworking. He built everything from playhouses to booths for school carnivals to scenery for dance recitals. Bud loved spending time with his daughters and grandchildren. He was always a willing partner for playing games, watching cartoons, swimming or taking rides in his golf cart. Bud loved dogs and for the past ten years, his dog, JoJo, adopted from VOSPCA, had been his constant companion. Bud is survived by his devoted wife, Irene Williams, and his loving daughters, Susan Bivona and husband Michael of Visalia and Laurene Beto and husband Kenneth of Felton, CA; his grandson, David Bivona of Visalia and his granddaughter, Jenna Ashford and husband Dustin of Visalia. Thankfully, Bud lived long enough to love and enjoy his great granddaughter, two year old Bella Lane Ashford. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews and cousins. Bud will be laid to rest with full military honors at the San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery near Santa Nella on September 28, 2012 at 1:30. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org) or Valley Oak SPCA (vospca.org). Condolences may be e-mailed to abbypaws1@aol.com