Patricia Williams

PATRICIA WILLIAMS

Marion

Patricia Rae Dorland Williams died peacefully Tuesday morning, Jan. 21, 2014, at the Villages of Marion.

Patricia was born in Cedar Rapids, on Dec. 29, 1923, to Orly and Marie McKean Dorland. She belonged to that Generation (The Greatest Generation) and knew the struggles and hardships of the time. She left school during her senior year, after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and entered the workforce to build radio crystals to help the war effort. On Thanksgiving 1943, Mother met Sgt. John Vernon Williams, U.S. Army Air Corps. They married on Aug. 19, 1944, and she began her experience as a military wife for 22 years. A life she adjusted to, then enjoyed with enthusiasm.

Beloved Mother, Grandmother and Great-Grandmother, always dedicated to her family, her special gift was providing a loving and supportive home despite sacrifices and loss. First as a career military wife, with all the separations, moves and uncertainty, then 40 plus years of maintaining a home alone after the death of her husband, which was followed months later by the death of her mother. Well into her 80s, she could be found mowing her yard, shoveling snow or baking pies to take to her oldest son during his shifts at Marion's Fire Station. After her husband's retirement from the Air Force, Patricia worked for Killians and Von Maur Department Store as the supervisor of the children's department, retiring in 1980.

Mom, your tenacity is the lesson we have all learned. Thank you. You will be dearly missed.

Patricia is survived by her daughter, Linda Rae Vance (David Bowser); sons, William R. Williams (Judy) and John Neal Williams; grandchildren, Larry David Vance (Danielle), Tamara Lynn Hinz (Eric Brissee), Casey Bilden (Kara Panosh), Bradd Williams and Jessica Williams; and great-grandchildren, Mitchell Vargason, Amanda Hinz, Connor and Walker Williams and Lainie Rose Williams.

Patricia was preceded in death by her parents; and infant brother; and her husband, John, in 1969.

Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, will handle a Celebration of Life from 3 to 6 p p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25. Family and friends are welcome. Patricia requested to be cremated with the cremains being buried next to her late husband in the rural family cemetery in Louisa County.

Condolences may be sent to Linda at 695 Meadowridge Blvd., Marion, IA, 52302.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Patricia's name may be sent to the Food Pantry of the First Presbyterian Church of Marion.

The family wishes to extend their sincere thanks to the staff of the Villages of Marion and Hospice of Mercy for their support and loving care.

Please sign the online guestbook for Patricia at

www.murdochfuneral

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