Albert Eugene Williams

Albert Eugene Williams was born in rural Osage County, near Burbank, Oklahoma on September 24, 1928. He was the only child of James Albert and Robert Mae (Morrell) Williams. Gene attended grade school at Carter Nine Elementary, a small community just south of Shidler, Oklahoma. After completion of grade school, he moved with his family to Yale, Oklahoma where he completed his education, graduating from Yale High School in 1946. Upon graduation from high school, Gene attended Oklahoma A&M and was married to Mary Lou Edington on October 16, 1948 in Cherokee, Oklahoma. The couple made their initial home in Stillwater as they both were attending school there. Shortly after the birth of their first daughter, Marsha, Gene was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army as he had participated in the Reserve Officer Training Corp (ROTC) at Oklahoma A&M. He was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict, serving overseas for a tour of duty. Upon completion of this active duty commitment, Gene returned to Cleveland where Mary Lou was residing and remained active in the Army Reserve where he was later promoted to the rank of Captain. He later obtained his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Oklahoma A&M. Gene attended Okmulgee Tech on the GI bill after completion of his military obligation gaining certification as a radio/television repairman. He then began working in that capacity operating a repair shop in Cleveland. In 1958, he accepted a position as a chemist with the Kerr-McGee Corporation at the refinery in Cleveland; while continuing to operate his television repair service. With the pending closure of the refinery, Gene accepted a position as a chemist in Tulsa with Pan American Research Company. In addition to their daughter, Marsha, the couple had two additional children, Mark and Janet. In 1967, Gene purchased the OTASCO store in Hominy and began a thirty year tenure operating the store. Gene and Mary Lou moved to Hominy in 1968 and have continued to make their home there for the past forty-three years. Upon the closing of the Munsingwear Plant, Gene and Sherm Perrin invested in Hominy, opening PROTOG, Inc., a manufacturing company supplying apparel and other textile products. Their efforts were primarily motivated by attempting to provide jobs for local people who had become unemployed with the closing of the Munsingwear operation. During his many years in business in Hominy, Gene was active in the Hominy Chamber of Commerce and the Hominy Kiwanis Club. Gene was known throughout the area as a devoted Christian, who exhibited absolute and biblical love of the Lord in everything he said or did. His calm demeanor and contented attitude was evident in his dealings with both family, friends and customers. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather; known by his family and many friends as Gene Dad. He will be remembered for his never give up attitude, as he has battled health problems for many years, yet attempting to never miss one of his children's or grandchildren's events. He has been a member of the Wynona Assembly of God for many years. He always appreciated the prayers offered by his church, family and friends for his continued health and that is what sustained him through all the years of ill health. He often said those prayers did not go unanswered and they were responsible for his living the life he did. All those prayers culminated with his transition from this life to his heavenly home on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at the Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa at the age of eighty-two. In addition to his love for his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Gene will be remembered for his love and dedication to his family, his passion for hunting and fishing and his beloved bird dogs. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years, Mary Lou Williams of the home; three children and their spouses, Marsha and Dale Young of Dallas, Texas, Mark and Vicki Williams of Hominy, Oklahoma and Janet and Steve Upshaw of Jenks, Oklahoma; nine grandchildren, Tami Reichert, Jill Young, Kaci Dinsmore, Lydnsey Flewellen, Ty Sparks, Kalyn Sell, Kleyton Young, Ashley Edgerton, Jacob Williams; sixteen great-grandchildren; and an aunt, Anna Mae Aicher of Eureka, Kansas. He was preceded in death by parents, James Albert and Roberta Williams. A private family committal service will be held at the Woodland Cemetery in Cleveland prior to a memorial service at 2:00 PM Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at the Wynona Assembly of God with Pastor David Downing officiating. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Chapman-Black Funeral Home in Cleveland. Memorial contributions may be made to Paralyzed Veterans of America at www.pva.org (800-555-9140) or the Wounded Warrior Project at www.woundedwarriorproject.org (877-TEAM-WWP) Friends may share a memory with the family at the funeral home or online at www.chapman-black.com.