Ralph Durand Williams

Ralph Durand Williams, Age 61, passed away peacefully in his home in Topeka, KS. on January 04, 2020, with his wife Virginia Williams and their eldest grandchild Clayton Williams by his side.

 

Ralph was born on May 22, 1958 in Houston, MO, to his parents Lewis Brazilla Williams and Agnes Louise Crabtree-Williams. He went to Salem Jr High School in Salem, MO, but dropped out in the 9th grade. He later married Virginia Williams on December 2, 1982 in Salem, MO. While living in Salem, he worked mainly in the charcoal/wood business, sawing down trees and taking them to be turned into charcoal, after that he worked a couple of factory jobs in-between, including, International Shoe Co., Heartland Metals, both in Salem, MO, and Brown Shoe Co., in Steelville, MO. He later moved to Topeka, KS, in December of 1994, with his wife and children. While in Topeka, he worked one job at Smith Truss Co. at Forbes Field before injuring his back on the job and being put out of the workforce for the remainder of his life. In his free time he enjoyed fishing, watching The Price is Right, playing guitar, working outdoors, and working on cars, especially his 1964 Pontiac Catalina. Although he didn't regularly attend church services he considered himself to be a Pentecostal, but was a member of Hepsoda Baptist Church in Montauk, MO. His life was plagued by heart troubles, COPD, and multiple strokes, and in June 2017 he was diagnosed with lung and brain cancer.

 

Ralph is survived by his wife Virginia Williams of Topeka, KS, and their 5 children with their partners, Randy Williams of Ellsworth, KS, Donny Williams and Angela Brunin, Tina Williams and Louis Harrell III, Jeremy Williams and Holly Williams, and Tiffany Williams, all of Topeka, KS. His 19 grandchildren; Clayton Williams, Dakota Spencer, Jordan Williams, and Randy Williams Jr. of Topeka, KS, Trevor Williams-Weinhold, and Devon Williams-Weinhold of Yoncalla, OR, Leanna James, and Aiden Williams of Topeka, KS, Sierra Harrell, and Louis Harrell of Topeka, KS, Jasper Williams, Hailie Brecheisen, Carter Lewis, and Isabella Williams of Topeka, KS, Emma Williams, and Austin "AJ" Williams of Justin, TX, and Elija Williams-Jones, Zaiden Williams, and Chaliana Williams of Topeka, KS. And his 3 remaining sisters and their spouses; Wanda Hussey and Harold Hussey of Rolla, MO, Cathy Forster and James Forster of Salem, MO, and Rhonda Steelman and Rick Steelman of Salem, MO. As well as his many nieces and nephews.

 

He is proceeded in death by his parents Lewis Brazilla Williams, Agnes Louise Williams-Jacobs, and his step-father Paul "Kermit" Lee Jacobs, all of Salem, MO. His brothers Marvin Williams, and Gerald Williams, both of Topeka, KS, and his sisters Doris Pilkington, and Brenda Shaw, both of Salem, MO.

 

Ralph wished to be cremated and did not want to have a funeral. He will be dearly missed.