Walter Lee Williams

October 19, 1948 - May 25, 2017

Walter Lee Williams, 68, of Oskaloosa died Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the MHP Hospice Serenity House in Oskaloosa. He was born October 19, 1948, in Muscatine, Iowa, the son of Raymond Lee and Anna Marie Lucas Williams. Walter attended school in Muscatine and Nichols, Iowa. Following school, he served in the United States Marine Corps from 1965 until his honorable discharge in 1969. On October 17, 1971, he was united in marriage to Donna Francine Terrell in Rock Island, Illinois. Donna died August 20, 2011. Early on Walter worked various jobs: mowing yards, shoveling sidewalks, and was the hired man at a feed store. In 1971, he moved to Oskaloosa and went to work for Cecil Smith at the Phillips Gas Station and later for Van Hulzen 66 Oil Company as a mechanic. He retired in 1979, due to ill health. Walter enjoyed watching wrestling, stock car races, and listening to country music. He delighted in spending time with his family and friends. Walter will be remembered for his great sense of humor. His family includes his two daughters, Brenda Williams of Oskaloosa and Melissa (Kevin) Crile of Tracy, Iowa; three step children, James (Genevia) Rinehart of Wright, Kim (Tim) Hol of Oskaloosa, and Tamara Rinehart of Alabama; nine grandchildren, Amanda “Mandy” Williams and Alexander Crile, Steven Rinehart, Rebecca Rinehart, Adam Hol, Matt Hol, Sara Akers, Shawna Akers, and Sidney McCombs; six great grandchildren; his father, Raymond Williams of Cedar Rapids; a sister, Connie Marie (Ken) Osborn of Muscatine; four half-sisters, Sherry (Alfred) Martinez, Diane (Mariano) Rodriguez, Carol Thorne, and Bonnie Chapman all of Muscatine; a half-brother, Jimmy Thorne of Muscatine; and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his wife, Walter was preceded in death by his mother and a half-brother, Alan Thorne. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, May 30, 2017, at 1:30 p.m. in the Bates Funeral Chapel in Oskaloosa with Pastor Dwayne Poe officiating. Burial will be in the Weldon Cemetery southwest of Oskaloosa. The Bates Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. Visitation will begin on Monday after 12 noon in the Bates Funeral Chapel and the family will be at the funeral chapel from 5-7 Monday evening to greet friends and relatives. Memorials may be made to MHP Hospice Serenity House.