Esther Williams
East Alton |
DATELINE: East Alton
NAME: ESTHER MARIE WILLIAMS
AGE: 94
DIED: Friday, January 7, 2011 at Alton Memorial Hospital ER
BORN: June 2, 1916 in Otterville, Illinois
PARENTS: Mark Julius and Edith Ida (Wahle) Bethel (Both deceased)
1^st MARRIED: Aden Abbott in 1935 he passed away in 1937
2^nd MARRIED: Chief Warrant Officer Howard Wilson “Sonny” Williams
in 1940 he passed away in 1979
OCCUPATION: When Esther was four, the Bethel family moved from
Otterville to a farm three miles south of Brighton. She graduated from
Brighton High School as Valedictorian of her class. Esther spent twenty
years as an army wife, living in California, Illinois, Germany,
Virginia, Kentucky, Texas, Georgia and North Carolina. After her husband
“Sonny” retired from the military, they returned to Illinois and
operated a lunch counter in Reese’s Drug Store in Godfrey for
approximately 17 years. During this time, she earned an Associate’s
Degree in Accounting at Lewis & Clark College. After they retired from
the lunch counter, she especially loved being outdoors and thoroughly
enjoyed her flowers.
MEMBERSHIPS: Military Officers Club and Esther was also a Girl Scout
leader.
VISITATION: 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 11, 2011
At Alexander & Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville
FUNERAL: 10 a.m., Wednesday January 12, 2011
At Alexander & Gubser Funeral Home in Jerseyville
OFFICATING: Rev. David Brown
BURIAL: Vallhalla Cemetery in Godfrey
MEMORIALS: American Cancer Society
SURVIVORS
2 DAUGHTERS: Alberta Marie (Walter) Phillips of Edwardsville and
Sandra Dawn Williams of Edwardsville
1 BROTHER: Robert Warren (Lenora) Bethel of East Alton
1 SISTER: Edith Annette (John) Herman of Edwardsville
1 DAUGHTER-IN-LAW: Leslie Williams
2 GRANDSONS: Keith Andrew Phillips and Christopher Howard Williams
4 GRANDDAUGHTERS: Heather Joanne Phillips, Deborah Jane Williams,
Jacqueline Elizabeth and Victoria Alexandra Vogel
11 NEPHEWS, 3 NIECES, 10 GREAT-NEPHEWS, 8 GREAT-NIECES AND 1
GREAT-GREAT-NIECE
2 SISTERS-IN-LAW: Carolyn Jennings and Daralene Bethel
PRECEDED IN DEATH BY: Parents and Husbands, Brother: Howard Earl
Bethel, 2 Sisters: Dorothy Ruth (Herbert) Etter and Rosemary Jean
(Robert) Anderson, a Son: Bruce Howard Williams, a Grandson: Mark Folger
Phillips, a Nephew: Timothy Howard Bethel, and a Great Niece.
ALEXANDER & GUBSER FUNERAL HOME
IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS
Alexander Funeral Home
