Carl "Ed" Williams
Carl Edward “Ed” Williams, 81, of Flintstone, left this earth on Monday, July 6, 2020.
Ed will be fondly remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, kind brother, proud veteran, renaissance man, constant comedian, epic story teller and steadfast friend to countless many.
He was passionate about a multitude of things and preferred them all in their purest forms, from the Little League World Series to the airs of the MLB, from dirt track racing to the glitz of NASCAR, and of course he’d choose a 1940 Ford Sedan over any fancy new model every single time.
Ed was married to his high school sweetheart, Johnnie Wilson Williams, for over 58 years, with whom they had what turned out to be two pretty good kids: Ed Williams Jr. of Scottsdale (AZ) and Elizabeth Cates of Walden (TN). A devoted father, he taught them to play ball sports, to deliver a well-timed sarcastic comment, to love travel, to have thick skin and to just be thankful at every turn.
Ed was a US Army veteran who served in Germany in the 60s, and that's where he and Johnnie discovered their love for exploring this globe together. Whether traveling through Europe with their army pals crammed into a VW bug or sharing his exceptional woodworking skills building a Honduran orphanage with Flintstone Baptist Church, he loved to share his charming smile and infectious laugh with all they met along the way.
Truly a man who never met a stranger, Ed was a prolific storyteller with a sharp tongue for detail and knew how to land a punchline. In fact, he loved to work a crowd so much that he had a table at “the restaurant” in his beloved Flintstone named after him for just these stories.
As a point of pride, he retired from the Norfolk Southern Railway at the ripe old age of 54 and pursued his love for antique cars, trains and woodworking for the next 28 years.
But most of all he loved his family and instilled in them all that he was which has served them well. He will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Reverend Carl and Virginia Williams, sister Caroline Williams, and, brother-in-law, Bobbie Gilbert.
He is survived by his loving wife, Johnnie Wilson Williams, son, Ed (Robyn) Williams, Jr. and daughter Elizabeth (David) Cates, sisters Doris Gilbert, and JoAnn (Cecil) Robertson.
On Saturday, July 11, at 11 a.m. a memorial service will be held at the pavilion at Tennessee-Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery at 724 Hogan Road, Rossville. Due to COVID-19, it is encouraged that all who attend please wear a mask. Masks will also be provided for those who don’t have them.
Feel free to share your favorite memory of Ed with his family at the Memories website (memories.net: Edward Williams, Rossville, Ga.).
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation in his name to the American Heart Association (heart.org) or American Lung Association (lung.org).
Condolences may be sent to lane-southcrestchapel.com. Arrangements are by the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home & Crematory, Rossville.