Lester Williams

LESTER JAMES WILLIAMS

Cedar Rapids

Lester James Williams,

101, of Cedar Rapids, died Friday, June 23, 2017, at Higley Mansion Care Center in Cedar Rapids. Funeral service: 11 a.m. Monday, June 26, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. A visitation will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 25, at Cedar Memorial Chapel Stateroom. Burial with military honors: Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.

Lester was born Nov. 10, 1915, the son of James and Anna (Johnson) Williams, in Blairstown, Iowa. He was married to Dolores Welton, on Oct. 5, 1940, in Anamosa. Lester served with the U.S. Army during World War II, from 1943 to 1945. He enjoyed many hobbies, including woodworking, making clocks and volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America. Lester was a member of the American Legion and St. James United Methodist Church. At 99 years old, Lester was the oldest passenger at that time to fly on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. Also at 99, he was baptized with several family members at Apostolic Pentecostal Church in Waterloo. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be dearly missed.

Survivors include his wife, Dolores Williams; son, Mark Williams; four grandchildren, Tammy (Scott) Bradley, Vicki Melsh, Randy (Vicki) Miller and Rick Miller; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Arlyce "Joan" Miller, and his parents.

Memorials may be directed to the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight, P.O. Box 10704, Cedar Rapids, IA 52410, in memory of Lester.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under Obituaries.