REV. RICHARD "LEROY" WILLIAMS

COBDEN, Ill. -- The Rev. Richard Leroy Williams, 67, of Cobden, died Wednesday, Dec. 8, 1999, at Memorial Hospital in Carbondale.

He was born July 12, 1932, at Cobden, son of Guy Leroy and Leona Vashti Patterson Williams.

He and Anna Lee Johnson were married Dec. 7, 1955, at Carbondale.

He was a member of Limestone Baptist Church, north of Cobden. He retired from the U.S. Navy after 20 years, and had served as pastor of the Union Springs, Limestone, and Makanda Baptist Churches until retiring.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Keith Leroy Williams of Cobden, Guy Lewis Williams of Murphysboro, and Donald Lee Williams of Jackson; two daughters, Dianna Lynn Nance of Cobden and Rhonda Hatfield of Granite City, Ill.; a brother, Larry Rex Williams of Lake of Egypt, Ill.; a sister, Patsy Ruth McCleland of Cobden; and six grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by a son and two brothers.

Friends may call at Lutz and Rendleman Funeral Home in Cobden from 5-8 p.m. today and on Saturday until funeral time.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with Revs. Charles Allen and Jerry King officiating. Burial will be in Alto Pass Cemetery.