Eugene “Gene” DeForest Williams, 93, of Clearfield died at Penn Highland Clearfield on Sunday, May 31, 2015 surrounded by his loving family.
Born Nov. 30, 1921, he was the son of Genevieve (Nelson) Williams and Sylvan K Williams.
He graduated from Clearfield High School in 1940. He attended the New York School of Design in New York City.
On Aug. 4, 1950 he wed Thelma J. (Larson) McCutcheon of Bradford. They had two children, Sylvan DeForest and Kristen LeVoy.
He is survived by his daughter, Kris Barratt and her husband, Steve of Linden, Va., and his brother, Murray Wayne Williams of Waynesburg.
Mr. Williams was preceded in death by his son and wife.
He began his career with Clearfield Furs Inc. in 1939. He became vice president in 1958 and was president from 1967 until its closure in 1992.
He was a life-long, active member of the St. John Lutheran Church in Clearfield. He served many years as a Sunday school teacher, member of the choir and church council.
He was a devoted member of the Clearfield Rotary Club, where he served as club president in 1960. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, a Rotary Benefactor and an honorary member of the Winter Park Florida Rotary Breakfast Club.
Mr. Williams was a member and past president of the Clearfield Historical Society.
He was also a member of the F&AM No. 314, Clearfield; the Scottish Rite Consistory, Coudersport; the Jaffa Shrine, Altoona; the Clearfield Shrine Club; the BPOE No. 540, Clearfield; and the Clearfield Choral Society.
He was a World War II veteran. He served as a pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corp from 1942-1945.
Mr. Williams learned to play his grandfather’s violin as a boy and later the mandolin. He loved to play and sing with family and friends. He was a member of “The Cavaliers,” a local string band that played many square dances and parties and the Jaffa Shrine String Band as their fiddler.
Throughout his life, he was a true “gentle” man, giving freely of his time in service to the community and all organizations to which he belonged.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at the St. John Lutheran Church in Clearfield, with the Rev. Robert Way officiating.
The family will receive friends from 10 a.m. Thursday until the time of the service at the church. A memorial luncheon will be provided immediately after the service.
A burial service will be held at Crown Crest Memorial Park at the convenience of the family.
Mr. Williams requested that any memorial contributions be made to the St. John Lutheran Church Memorial Fund. His family requests that in lieu of flowers, a donation be made to a charity of choice.
To send online tributes, go to www.bennettandhouser.com or www.mem.com.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Bennett & Houser Funeral Home, Clearfield.