Jim R Williams

Jim was born on January 29, 1939, in Vinita, Oklahoma, to Howard Williams and Norma Coppedge Williams. In the late 1940s, he moved to Claremore, Oklahoma, where he spent his formative years and graduated from Claremore High School in 1957.

As a young man, Jim worked at his family's restaurant, Streeter's Cafe, learning the value of hard work, service, and community. After high school, he moved to Arkansas City and later to Wichita, Kansas, where he began working for Commercial Credit and met his wife, Phyllis Baum. Jim and Phyllis were married on October 14, 1962, beginning a partnership that would span more than six decades.

Throughout his career, Jim lived and worked in several communities across the Midwest. In 1976, he and his family settled in Olathe, Kansas, where they built lasting friendships and deep roots. During his professional life, Jim worked for Allstate Insurance, Allis-Chalmers, and later TVH, where he retired after many years of dedicated service.

Jim proudly served his country as a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard beginning in 1957 and later in the United States Army Reserves from 1960 to 1968.

A man of faith, Jim was a former member of Village Presbyterian Church and served as an usher. He also enjoyed volunteering at the Olathe Public.

While Jim appreciated a rewarding career and community involvement, his greatest joy was his family. He especially cherished watching his grandson, Sam, play basketball and took pride in supporting him from the sidelines. Jim also enjoyed playing golf with his friends from TVH, sharing breakfast conversations at Old 56, and enthusiastically cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs and the Kansas Jayhawks.

Jim is survived by his beloved wife, Phyllis Williams of Olathe; his daughter, Kristi Rinke and her husband, Mike Rinke, of Olathe; his grandson, Sam Rinke, of Olathe; his sisters, Nancy Nees of Claremore, Oklahoma, Pat Kilpatrick and her husband Don Kilpatrick of Claremore, Oklahoma, and Debra Gilkeson and her husband Stephen Gilkeson of Claremore, Oklahoma.

He was preceded in death by his father, Howard Williams; his mother, Norma Cullison; and his stepfather, Dave Cullison.

Jim will be remembered for his kindness, steady presence, sense of humor, devotion to family, and the many friendships he cultivated throughout his life. His legacy lives on in the family he loved and the countless lives he touched.

A private service will be held.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Community of Johnson County or the Olathe Animal Shelter.