Oleph Albert Williams

natural causes. One of the few remaining men of the greatest generation.

Ole was born on August 29, 1927 in Cole Camp, MO. He joined the Merchant Marines at the age of 17,

which landed him in Pasadena California for 8 weeks of basic training. He turned 18 three months later

then was drafted into the Army at the end of WWII. After 15 months they discharged him in 1947. He

then got a job at Sheffield Steel Mill for a while until the Korean War started then he was drafted. He

became a cook which earned him an M.O.S number which helped him reach the rank of Sergeant First

Class. That blessing took him off the front line because just after two weeks of enlistment they placed

him there due to having two rounds of basic training back to back. He also thought it was significant that

he was the second man in the Second Squad of the Second Platoon of the Second Battalion of the

Second Division. He said and I quote “I guess that makes too many lucky numbers because I’m still alive

and have both arms and legs”. He had several close calls in those 4 years and 20 days that earned him

the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. He had the “Best Mess Hall” which earned him a Commendation

medal for meritorious service. He was very proud of his rank and service. However, he suffered from

PTSD all the rest of his life as a result of the horrible experiences in the war. He prayed that he would

have daughters so they wouldn’t see combat. Prayers answered.

Ole then went back to the steel mill and worked there for 33 years and ended as a Foreman. He loved to

travel with his family on the road with a camper then later in an RV. During that time, he taught his family how to camp, hunt, and fish. He loved to bird hunt with his Hungarian Vizsla bird dogs Prince and Lady. We had several liters, it was so much fun to have the puppies. He taught us girls to load shotgun shells, we pretended we worked at Lake City on an assembly line.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Ada Williams; two brothers Grady and Emory; and

three sisters Delvetta, Glenna, Gerri.

Ole is survived by his wife of 69 years, June Williams; sister, Norine; three daughters, Rhonda Farrell, Lora Roark and Neva Williams; four grandchildren, Brett Titus, Deanna Catania, Allison Morris, and Timothy Morris; six great-grandchildren, Deion Amrine, Devin Amrine, Noah Catania, Nylah Catania, Ryan Morris and Harrison Love.

Services will be held privately for the family at Floral Hills Funeral Home and Cemetery, 7000 Blue Ridge

Blvd, Kansas City, MO.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warriors Project,

https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/