Williams, Larry L.

Larry L. Williams, 72, of Ryan, Iowa, died peacefully Monday, July 15, 2013, at his home, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease.)

Larry Layne Williams was born Dec. 6, 1940, at Tennessee, Ill., the son of Charles and Anna (Badger) Williams. He graduated from Manchester High School with the class of 1959. Larry began working for Collins Radio in Cedar Rapids. Larry served honorably in the United States Army, after serving four years in Germany, he returned to work at Collins Radio.

On Jan. 13, 1968, Larry was united in marriage to Donna McGraw at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Manchester. Five children were born to this union. Larry and Donna made their home in Ryan. He retired in 2003 from Rockwell Collins after 44 years of service. Larry and Donna celebrated 45 years of marriage recently.

Larry was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church and the Ryan American Legion Post #692, where he had served as a commander. Larry was also a longtime member of the Boy Scouts, where he served as a local Scout Master and on the district committee. Larry loved and enjoyed his family. He had numerous hobbies over the years, including stock car racing, sky diving, snow and water skiing, boating, hunting, fishing, tying fly lures, camping and traveling.

Survivors include his wife, Donna Williams of Ryan; five children, Kristina (Michael) Legg of Mount Pleasant, Wis., Renie Frisby-McCallum of Coggon, Charles (Sarah) Williams of Walford, Sandra (Matt Guthrie) MacDonald of Manchester and Carl (Jenni) Williams of Marion; 15 grandchildren, Rian and Connor Legg, Brittney and Robert Frisby, and Joshua and Elizabeth McCallum, Emily and Erica Williams, Logan, Sean, Rhianna, Jordyn, Makennzei and Kaelen MacDonald and Payton Williams; two great-grandchildren, Layla and Shawna; three brothers and two sisters, William Williams and Dennis Williams, both of Manchester, Jerry (Lynda) Williams of Marion, Judy (Chuck) Bemer of Cedar Rapids and Carolyn Williams-White of Manchester; two sisters-in-law, Dianne Williams of Manchester and Carolyn Williams of Missouri; and his mother-in-law, Mary Lauersdorf of Manchester.

Larry was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Francis and Charles Williams; sister, Pamela Jones; one niece, Stacie Williams; two nephews, John White and Kenneth Williams; and his father-in-law, Ray McGraw.

Online condolences may be sent to .

Mass of Resurrection:

. Celebrant: The Rev. Richard Gaul. Family will greet friends from 2 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Leonard-Muller Funeral Home in Manchester, and also one hour before services Friday at the church. Interment with Military Rites: Calvary Cemetery, Ryan, Iowa,

Published in The Gazette July 17, 2013.