Larry Hale Williams, 73, of Benton, TN, died on Monday, March 23, 2015 after a long illness at his family home.
Larry was born in Etowah, TN on July 30, 1941 to the late E. Fred Williams and Jean Hale Balf; and was also preceded in death by his grandparents, E. M. Williams & Elsie Williams; step-mother, Elizabeth D. Williams; uncle, Alan Oneal; and aunt, Blanch Balf.
He was a 1959 graduate of City High, attended UTK, UC and a 1965 graduate of MTSU where he was a charter member of the Block and Bridle Club. He was a 1st Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1965 to 1967 and retired from Foster Dixiana Corp. as a Vice President of Operations. Larry was a member of Benton Station Baptist Church and served as a Sunday School teacher and trustee, vice president of the Polk County Historical Society, Treasurer of Polk County Gideons, a member of the Selective Service Board and American Legion Post 15 of Lebanon, TN. His favorite service was ministering to the inmates at the Polk County Jail. Larry was a loving father and grandfather.
Survivors include his loving & devoted wife, Shelly Williams of Benton, TN; children, Christopher Williams (Michele) of Lexington, SC, Jeff Williams, Amanda Porte' (Brian) of Birmingham, AL and Nora Clair Kissie (Matt) of San Antonio, TX; step-sons, Michael Schumacher (Brooke) of Myrtle Beach, SC and Charles Lattuca of Benton, TN; sisters, Johnnie Lou Stephen (Sam), of Soddy Daisy, TN, Melina Wilson (Chuck) and Sally Reed (Tim) both of Chattanooga; grandchildren, Josh and Leia Williams, Caleb, Jake and Megan Porte', Klinner, Gaberial & Zane Kissie, Shelly, Natalia and Trinity Lattuca, Madison, Brystol & Michael Schumacher; mother-in-law, Mildred Wood of West Columbia, SC; bother-in-law, Robert W. Bedell (Julia); sisters-in-law, Frances Haygood all of West Columbia SC and Robin Hendrick(Marney) of Salisbury, NC; uncle, Mark Hale; favorite aunt, Kathryn Oneal; cousins, Mike Oneal(Jane) of Chattanooga, Gordon Brewer (Martha) of Ellijay, GA and Linda Roach of Philadelphia, PA; special "adopted daughter" Shannon Wilcox and her children (Larry's godchildren), Brooke and Chase(Cody) all of Benton, TN; and special friends, Joel Jenkins, Bob Haley, Frank Roloff, Kenneth Roe, Bill Thompson, Charles Woods, Jackie Gates, Bill Trew, Johnny Brown and fellow Gideons, Johnny Miles, Jim Mabe, Noah Green of the Jail Ministry and members of his Sunday School Class and Matt & Teresa La Motte of Lexington, SC.
A special thanks to the East Tennessee Health Care & Hospice employees Kathy Norton, Kay Thompson, Robin Allen, Jennifer Eagen & Pastor Mike Justice for their outstanding and loving care.
A celebration of his life is planned for Thursday, March 26 at 6 p.m. at the Benton Station Baptist Church located at 909 Benton Station Road in Benton, TN with the Reverend Joel Jenkins officiating.
The family will receive friends at the church on Thursday, March 26 from 4-6 p.m.
The interment will take place on Friday, March 27 at 11:30 a.m. in the Chattanooga National Cemetery with full Military Honors.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to either Benton Station Baptist Church, East Tennessee Hospice or the Polk County Gideon's Camp in memory of Larry.
Companion Funeral Home has charge of the arrangements.