Harry B. Williams

Born Aug. 1, 1930, in Indianapolis, Ind., Harry was the son of the late Burns P. and Mildred L. (Phillips) Williams. He graduated from Jefferson Township High School in Mexico, Ind., and went on to serve two years in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict, being honorably discharged in 1953.

On Jan. 28, 1951, in Peru, Ind., he married Pauline Rife and she survives.

Harry worked as a clerk for the former Wabash Railroad for 11 years and, at the same time, he worked toward and received his bachelor’s degree from Purdue University, graduating cum laude in 1959. Harry then worked on the management team for R.R. Donnelly and Sons for over 30 years, retiring in 1989.
As a result of Harry’s career, he and his wife have lived in Crawfordsville, Ind.; Willard, Ohio; Dwight, Ill.; Olympia Fields, Ill.; Harrisonburg, Va.; Hendersonville, Tenn; and for the past 12 years, in the Greater Lafayette area.

Harry was a member of Grace United Methodist Church and a former member of the Lafayette Rotary Club. The times he spent with his wife, Pauline, were the most important times in his life, especially traveling together throughout the Northwestern part of the United States. Harry enjoyed fishing, reading, golfing, and spending time with friends and family.

In addition to his wife, Pauline, Harry is survived by their five children, Mitchell Williams and his wife, Donna, of Plano, Texas; David Williams and his wife, Elizabeth, of Morris, Ill.; Beth Wolfford and her husband, David “Skip,” of Culpeper, Va.; Alec Williams and his wife, Jeanne, of Wooster, Ohio; and Kerry Williams and his wife, Tami, of Findlay, Ohio. He is also survived by 17 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren; a sister, Myra McKenna, and her husband, Jack, of Tuscon, Ariz.; and a sister-in-law, Donna Williams, of North Manchester, Ind.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Jerry Williams.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 15, with the service at 4 p.m. at Hippensteel Funeral Home, 822 N. 9th St., Lafayette, Ind., with Pastor Larry Johnson, Pastor Bonnie Shoaf, and Pastor Lore Gibson officiating.