Thomas Wendell Williams

Thomas Wendell (Tip) Williams 94, passed away peacefully on October 18th. He was surrounded at the time of his death by his loving family. Tip was born in 1924 at St. Francis Hospital in Beech Grove. His parents were Rosco and Minnie (DeFranco) Williams. Tip was raised on the south side of Indianapolis, graduating from Sacred Heart High School in 1942. He was president of his senior class and captain of the basketball team. As many of his peers in the greatest generation did, he enlisted in the Air Force in 1943, spending three years in service at several bases in the Southern United States. His primary responsibilities were a pilot instructor supporting the country’s war effort in World War II. Upon completion of his service, Tip matriculated in the University of Notre Dame in 1946. His university career was enabled by the G.I. Bill and he graduated with a degree in mechanical engineering, cum laude in 1949. Tip worked for several companies before founding O.E.M Sales, where he served as president for 35 years. The company was a manufacture’s rep agency marketing components for the aircraft and automotive industries. Tip met the love of his life, Mary Margaret (Meg) Kiefer in 1956 and married in 1957. Together they raised six children. Meg predeceased Tip in 1992. Tip and Meg enjoyed playing golf together and were club champions at Hillcrest Country Club in 1977. Tip also was an Indiana Amateur qualifier in 1993 and qualified as one of the oldest in the field at the 1993 United States Senior Amateur. Tip taught Meg how to play golf and she too was a noteworthy player in Indianapolis. Tip was a former board member at Hillcrest and was a long-time member at Old Oakland Golf Club and Brookshire Golf Club. He was a past president of The Gyro Club of Indianapolis. He attended St. Matthew Catholic Church for many years and most recently attended and was a parishioner at Holy Spirit Parish at Geist Catholic Church. Tip is survived by his six children, Michael Charles, Kristy, Mary Ellen Rogers, Carol Ann, Laura Marie Ritchey (Scott), and Thomas Paul. He had six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by brothers Charles (Chick) and Paul. The family will receive friends at Feeney-Hornak Keystone Mortuary, 2126 East 71st Street, Indianapolis from 4-7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24th. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, October 25th, at Holy Spirit Parish at Geist Catholic Church, 10350 Glaser Way, Fishers, IN calling at 10:30 a.m. and Mass at 11 a.m. followed by a lunch reception in the parish hall. The family expresses its gratitude to all the great people at the Indianapolis Veterans Administration and Intrepid Hospice. Tip received the best of care particularly over the last decade of his life. Thoughts and remembrances may be made at www.feeneyhornakkeystone.com