Edwin J. Williams

Edwin J. Williams, 83, of 115 Howe St., died June 27, 2009, at the Samaritan Medical Center.

Arrangements are with the Bruce Funeral Home, Black River.

A funeral Mass is at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Catholic Church with Rev. Andrew Mulvaney pastor, officiating. Burial will be in Black River Cemetery with military honors. There are no calling hours.

Born December 13, 1925, in the town of Pinckney, NY, son of Truman and Musetta Dawley Williams, he graduated from Antwerp High School.

Mr. Williams worked for GLF, now known as Agway, before entering the US Army on November 17, 1948. He was honorably discharged on July 19,1952 as a Corporal and received the Army of Occupation Medal (Germany).

He married Veronica T. Williams, of Auburn, on January 10, 1953, at St. Hyacinth's Catholic Church, Auburn, with Rev. Edward Kurdzeil officiating. The couple moved to Black River in 1958.

Mr. Williams, a clerk and weigh master for General Crushed Stone in Watertown for 39 years, retired in 1991. He was the Quartermaster for the Black River VFW, a member of the Antwerp American Legion, and an avid Yankees and Syracuse University fan.

His wife worked in the cafeteria at the Black River Elementary School and then worked at Empsall's Department Store, Watertown, as a clerk for more than 15 years, retiring in 1983. She died June 28, 2009.

Among his survivors are a son, Francis J. Williams, Black River; a daughter and son in law, Marsha W. and Stephen A. Hodkinson, Watertown; a grandson and his fiancé, Luke Hodkinson and Melinda Feeney, Watertown; a sister and brother in law, Trudy and Harold Lamberton, Otego, NY, and several nieces and nephews.

A son, Paul E., died in 1979 and a sister, Marlene Oliver, died before him.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Black River Ambulance Squad, 121 LeRay St., or to St. Paul's Catholic Church 208 LeRay St., both at Black River, NY 13612.