Fredrick A. “Fred” Williams, a lifetime area resident living on Thorn Road, Walkerton, Indiana, died unexpectedly from an apparent heart attack at 8:40 a.m. on Tuesday, January 9, 2007. Fred, 59- years- old, died in Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, Plymouth.
Born in Plymouth on October 25, 1947, Fred was the son of Raymond and Arlene Brown Williams. He attended Walkerton schools.
He was a Viet Nam War veteran, serving in the United States Army.
On December 29, 1972, in Plymouth, Fred and Janice L.Erickson were married.
Fred worked for 26 years in Mishawaka, Indiana, as a carpenter for Gibson and Lewis Corp.
He was known to love his family and his children and enjoyed working on his mini farm. Fred was a “piddler.” He loved to help people and to share his skills and teach people how to do things right.
An outdoorsman, he was a fisherman and a skeet shooter. He was a coach for the Hoosier Gun Swingers, a children’s group that he taught how to skeet shoot.
A member of the National Rifle Association, he was active in the V.F.W. Post 1954 , North Liberty, the American Legion and AmVets of Ohio.
Fred is survived by his wife, Janice, Walkerton, Indiana, and by their daughter and two sons.
Their daughter Beth Ann Erickson and her friend Margo Boswell, live in Tyner. His sons are Skip and Lisa Erickson, Tyner, and Jeff and Susan Erickson, Mishawaka.
Nine grandchildren: Tony, Bobby, Brandon, Andrew, Nicole, Paris, P.J., Vinnie, Alex and many more adopted kids and grandchildren survive his death.
Three brothers and three sisters also survive. They are brothers: Wayne and Elaine Williams, Tyner: Glendon and Linda Williams, Plymouth: Paul and Cathy Williams, Angus Valley, Florida.
His sisters are Kathy and Don Keller, Zepher Hills, Florida: Diane Sobeck, Kissimmee, Florida, and Sharon Williams, Walkerton.
An aunt,Lavon and Ray Lange of Rolling Prairie, Indiana, and his mother-in-law, Donna Huffer of Tyner, also survive.
Fred was preceded in death by his parents.
Friends are invited to share memories with Fred’s family in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth, on Saturday, January 13, 2007, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Graveside services for Fred will be held after visitation in the Tyner Cemetery, Tyner, Indiana, where North Liberty V.F.W. Post 1954 will provide military honors.
Memorial gifts in Fred’s memory may be made to the Hoosier Gun Swingers.