Donald Charles Williams

He attended schools in Akron, Ohio and graduated from Ohio State University with a BS in Dairy Technology.

He entered the Air Force Cadet Program and was commissioned a First Lieutenant in the United States Air Force in 1955. This would be a career spanning 29 years, filled with the love of country and his fellowman. He was very proud of his first assignment as a Performance Engineer on the crew of the B-36 Heavy Bomber that was named “The Peacemaker”. He would continue flying the B-47, KC-97 and the KC-135 while stationed at various Air Force bases. In 1972, he spent a year flying the EC-47 in Viet Nam. He returned home to McConnell Air Force Base in Wichita, Kansas where he would end his distinguished Air Force career in 1980.

Since retiring, he enjoyed his second love (after his love of country) as a gentleman farmer. He loved to plant, watch things grow and then enjoy the harvest of vegetables, fruits, flowers and nuts on his mini-farm known as ‘Williams Fun and Farm.’ He gloried in being able to keep his many friends and neighbors supplied with the fruits of his labor- sometimes even over supplied.

His most cherished harvests of the last 31 years were his many friendships, especially all of his brothers and the staff of Elks Lodge #1240.

Don is survived by his wife of 54 years, Barbara; his two sons, Don II and wife Deborah, Dwight and wife Mary; four grandchildren, Chris Rios and wife Sherry; Clayton Williams, Lauren Pieretti, all of Clovis, California, Allison Peffley and husband Joshua; and the love of his life, great-granddaughter, Grace Peffley of Salinas, California.

He is also survived by four sisters; Diana Studer, Rebecca Brown, and Linda Thompson of Akron, Ohio and Joyce Criner of Palmdale, California, one brother, Lt. Col. Fredrick Williams (USAF Retired) of DuPont, Washington; and step-mother, Elizabeth Williams of Indio, California.

Visitation will be held from 3-7 P.M. on Tuesday, February 15, 2011 at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.

Services will be held at 11 A.M. Wednesday, February 16, 2011at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home under the direction of Elks Lodge #1240, internment at 2 P.M. with full Military Honors at San Joaquin National Cemetery followed by a reception at Elks Lodge #1240.

Memorial contributions may be made to Elks Lodge #1240 Building Fund, Castle Air Museum or The Last Hope Cat Kingdom.