Lester Lee Williams

Lester Lee “Les” Williams, 79, an area resident most of his life, died of natural causes in Pilgrim Manor Nursing Home at 5:10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 2, 2007.

Les was born in Newport, Arkansas, on June 19, 1927, the son of Ed F. Williams, a full-blooded Cherokee Indian and Hildred Scudders Williams.

He was first married to Maggie Burnham. She died in September of 1961. He was married in Plymouth on May 6, 1994, to Linda Rhoades Wilcox.

Retired from Bendix in South Bend, he then worked at Fairmont Homes in Nappanee.

Les loved being a farmer. He enjoyed animals and growing flowers in his garden.

He was a devoted grandfather and adored his grandchildren.

Les is survived by his spouse, Linda, and by his five daughters. They are Lenda (Ed) Barcus, Plymouth, Ind.: Margaret (John) Holderman, Plymouth, Ind.; Judie Lamb, Anderson, Ind.: Karen (Garry) King, Knox, Ind.: and Connie (Johnnie) Hite, Talma, Ind.

Also surviving are three step-daughters and three step-sons. The step-daughters are: Cindy (Ron) Burch, Tyner, Ind.: Pam Pinkowski, Plymouth, Ind.: and Cindy Spence, Culver, Ind.

The step-sons are: Steve (Kay) Forsythe, Heber Springs, Ark.: David Forsythe, Milford, Ind.: and David Wilcox, Plymouth, Ind.

Nineteen grandsons, eleven granddaughters, numerous great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandson survive as well.

Les was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, a daughter, Mary Spore and two sons, Kenneth and Ricky Williams.

Friends will be welcomed to celebrate Les’ life with his family on Friday, May 4, 2007, from 4 to 7 p.m. in the Johnson-Danielson Funeral Home, 1100 N. Michigan St., Plymouth.

Funeral services for Les will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 5, 2007, in the funeral home. The Rev. Mark Cottrill, pastor of the United Pentecostal Church of Bourbon, will officiate.

Burial will be in the Bremen Cemetery, Bremen, Ind.

Memorial gifts in Les’ memory may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.