Obituaries Charles Leland Williams | Charles Leland Williams |
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 Charles Leland Williams, 85, of 812 Central Avenue, Oil City, died peacefully at 2:30 am, Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Caring Place in Franklin. Born May 26, 1925, in Coraopolis, he was the son of the late Roy and Nora Wright Williams. Chuck was a 1943 graduate of Cranberry high school, where he excelled in basketball and baseball. He attended First Church of God in Oil City. Chuck enlisted in the US Army immediately after graduating from high school, serving his country in WWII, present at the invasion of France at Utah Beach, he was awarded a purple heart. He often recounted his service providing escort duty at Hitler's Eagles Nest in Germany for Generals Patton, Eisenhower and Churchill. Upon his return from the service he played baseball in the Oil City Hayrake League at Bucktails and later in Seneca. He also played baseball for the Pittsburgh Pirates Farm Team, the Refiners, playing 2nd base. He played against Whitey Ford in 1946. He worked for the Oil City Glass company briefly and then as a Supervisor for Louis Kraft Company from 1947 until his retirement. Chuck was a member of the Masons, the American Legion and the South Side Business Men's Association. His hobbies included fishing and hunting with his family and he was a dedicated fan of the Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins. Chuck was a loving father and grandfather and helped raise his grandchildren. On November 26, 1949, he married the former Jean Marie Kraft, who preceded him in death on April 12, 2008. Surviving are a son Craig L Williams and his wife Susan of Rouseville; a daughter, Leanne Kinch of Oil City; three grandchildren Travis, Caleb and Abigail of Rouseville; three brothers Ron Williams of Cranberry, Dale Williams of Erie, Paul Williams of Greenville; a sister, Phoebe Williams, who resides at the Caring Place in Franklin; a sister-in-law Doris Sheatz of Oil City; a brother-in-law Louis Kraft of Oil City; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers Kendrick Williams and Clair Williams. Friends may call at the Morrison Funeral Home from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm Friday. Funeral services will be held at the funeral home at 12 noon Saturday with the Rev. Brenda Snedden, of the First Church of God, officiating. Interment will be in Grove Hill Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Oil City YWCA or the First Church of God in Oil City. |