Pauline Williams

Pauline was born March 13, 1929 in Allen, Oklahoma as Pauline Inman. Her mother, Susie Inman (née Schults) died when Pauline was 13 years old. As the oldest female sibling, Pauline ended up helping care for her three brothers and three sisters. In early 1944 at the age of 14, Pauline moved to California to be with her dad, Julius Inman, in Hayward and got a job working at Hunt’s cannery. Pauline also held jobs at Galileo-Capri Salami, Del Monte Pickle, and Rath Packing.

It was in California where she met Robert Leland Williams whom she married on December 20, 1947. They had three boys: Michael, Rick and Gary. Pauline’s sons were more important to her than anything and she enjoyed going to her sons’ baseball games, school events and PTA meetings. She was a room mother for their grade school and a den mother for Gary’s Cub Scout troop. Pauline also joined the San Lorenzo Mother Singers and sang for the governor at the California State Capital. Pauline loved country music, especially her favorite singer, Vince Gill.

She loved her home and decorated it using her many talents and hobbies, including sewing, crocheting, and refinishing and restoring furniture and lamps. She also collected dolls and loved finding and reselling bargains and antiques at garage sales. She loved gardening and gardened into her 90s.

Pauline lived on a farm in Shawnee, Oklahoma in the 70s and 80s and raised cattle, geese, Guinea fowl, chicken and hand-tamed cockatiels. She eventually retired in Modesto, California.

Pauline died of natural causes on February 20, 2024. She leaves behind her two sons, Mike Williams (Diane) of Modesto; and Gary Williams (Linda) of Discovery Bay and her sister Sheila Rubi (Del) of Phoenix, Arizona. Pauline was preceded in death by her husband Bob Williams and her son Rick Williams. Pauline has five grandchildren: Ronelle Nesper (Roland), Ryan Williams, Richard Williams, Jerrod Williams (Angela), and Jenna Starkweather (Scott); Eight great grandchildren: Alexis Williams, Taylor Williams, Justin Nesper, Jayden Nesper, Jordan Nesper, Hank Williams, Nora Starkweather and Keira Starkweather; and one great great granddaughter, Alina Williams.

Pauline is loved by her family and friends and will be missed dearly.

Closed casket visitation will be Friday, March 1, 2024, from 2-3 pm, in the Heritage Chapel at Lakewood Funeral Home, 900 Santa Fe Ave., Hughson, Calif., followed by a memorial service at 3 pm.

A committal service for immediate family will be held on Tuesday, March 5, at 10 am at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery, 32053 West McCabe Rd., Santa Nella, Calif. where Pauline will be interred.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy or the Alzheimer’s Association.