Woodward County Obituary
Elmwood Cemetery

© Billings Funeral Home
WOODWARD, WOODWARD CO, OK
(permission granted)
Submitted by: Jo Aguirre

Albert "Al" Vance Williams

May 26, 1922 ~ October 26, 2019

Albert Vance (Al) Williams, 97 year old longtime Woodward businessman, died Saturday, October 26, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. Thursday, October 31, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Shannon Davis officiating. Burial will follow in the Elmwood Cemetery with the United States Army providing military graveside rites.

Albert Vance Williams was born on May 26, 1922 in Marlow, Oklahoma; he was the seventh of nine children born to Albert Vance Sr. and Bertha Elizabeth (Gordon) Williams. Al grew up in Marlow before the family moved to Woodward, where he attended Tangier school.

He was inducted into the United States Army at 18 years of age in September of 1940. He served his country during World War II with the 158th Field Artillery, 45th Division. He was involved with the Italian Campaign with the invasion of Sicily and the attack on Salerno. Al was the last living member of his division. During his time he received the Good Conduct Medal, European Theater Service Ribbon, one Silver Service Star, one Bronze Service Star and the American Defense Service Ribbon. He was honorably discharged as a Staff Sergeant in 1952. After his discharge from the Army he was united in marriage to Jane Elizabeth Leach at the Methodist Church parsonage in Woodward, Oklahoma on February 10, 1951. They made their first home in Lawton before moving to Winchester, Virginia where Al and Jane owned the Tastee Freeze for two years. Al purchased the Polly Anna Café in 1953 and the family moved back to Woodward. He owned and operated the Polly Anna and Als Golden Chicken for 42 years.

Al was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 19, the Woodward Masonic Lodge, the Shriners and the VFW. He served as Woodward City Commissioner, was the Mayor of Woodward, and spearheaded the design, fund raising and construction of the Woodward County Veterans Memorial. He loved spending time with his family and always enjoyed watching any activity his grandchildren and great-grandchildren were in.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Jane Williams of the home; three sons: Ted Williams and wife Tammie of Midland, Texas, Lyndon Williams of Tulsa, Lance Williams of Woodward; two daughters: Donna White and husband Ronnie of Mooreland, Vicki Williams of Tulsa; 11 grandchildren: Troy White and wife Gina, Tiffany Schultz and husband Lance, Kristin Stinnett, Bridget Babione and husband RC, Andrea Roe and husband Bobby, Kara Williams, Trevor Williams, Tyler Williams and wife Breanna, Brittany Williams Hughes, Avery Williams, and Reid Williams; 15 great-grandchildren: Hunter, Cooper and Tyson White, Gatlin and Allyn Goodson, Jackson and Addie Stinnett, Caleb, Josh, Isaac, and Micaiah Babione, Cade and Khyber Roe, Parker and Jaclynn Williams; one brother, Jimmy Ted Williams and wife Lilliana of Kemah, Texas; other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers, Ok Williams and Joe Gordon Williams and sisters, Doris Baransy, Donna Crane, Lahoma Grunewald, Dixie Williams, and Patsey Hendren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Woodward American Legion Post 19 with the funeral home accepting the contributions.