John “Jack” Williams
John “Jack” Williams
John “Jack” Williams
June 17, 1930 – October 25, 2021
Iowa City (Centerville), Iowa | Age 91
John “Jack” Charles Williams, 91, formerly of Centerville, Iowa, passed away late Monday evening, October 25, 2021, at his Iowa City home surrounded by his wife and daughter. John Charles Williams was born at home to Mary Bailes Williams and Alfred Williams on June 17, 1930.
Jack lived his early life in Nanticoke, a small coal mining town in NE Pennsylvania. He was a 1948 graduate of Nanticoke Senior High school.
In 1953, he married the love of his life, Molly Margaret Schwartz, also of Nanticoke, in the Primitive Methodist Church in their hometown. Jack and Molly were the parents of Laurie Lee Williams (Taylor) and Linda Helen Williams (Weidow).
Jack was employed by Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., working with cryogenic gases in the late 1950’s and 1960’s. His work with Air Products took him all over the United States and many countries in eastern Europe. After returning from Europe, Jack was employed by RCA, Inc. overseeing the manufacturing of semi-conductors. In the late 1980’s, he moved to Centerville, Iowa with his wife, Molly. In Centerville, he helped start up a Rubbermaid Corporation plant. After retirement, he served as Mayor of Centerville for 6 years.
Jack had many hobbies that revolved around anything mechanical, especially cars and clocks. He played the harmonica and violin. He had an amazing tenor voice and sang his whole life in church, as well as the Orpheus Choir, and a barbershop quartet in Centerville, Iowa.
Jack was a quiet, patient, and kind man who practiced his faith through the way he lived. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.
He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Molly; his daughter Laurie Lee and her husband, Craig Douglas Taylor; his son-in-law, William Weidow, III; his granddaughter, Jennifer Lynn Weidow Buell and his great-granddaughters Malia and Makenna; his granddaughter, Molly Margaret Taylor Walter and her husband, Benjamin Walter and his great-grandchildren, Henry Thomas and Helena Mary; his sister-in-law, Kathleen Brennan Williams; and nephews Keith John (Michelle) Williams and Kevin Scott (Mary) Williams; and niece Karen (Cory) Baumgaars.
He was preceded in death by his father, Alfred Williams, who died much too young in a coal mining accident; by his mother, Mary Bailes Williams; his brother, Larry Phillip Williams and his much-loved daughter, Linda Helen Williams Weidow.
No visitation is planned, and a private service will be held when his gravestone is ready.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers or food, a donation would be made in Jack’s name to Iowa City Hospice, Inc. who made it possible to let him pass away in the comfort of his home. They are truly a heaven-sent service, and their caregivers are beyond wonderful.
Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.
