Joseph R. Williams

Holland Patent - Joseph R. Williams, 92, of Holland Patent, husband of the late Dorothea (Jones) Williams, passed away on February 15, 2009, at his residence while under the loving care of his family. A native of the Town of Trenton, he was born on June 3, 1916, to William R. and Jessie (Aldworth) Williams. In his youth he was a resident of Mill Street, Stittville. He received his education in Stittville and Holland Patent schools. Mr. Williams served in the United States Army during World War II as a welder. He was honorably discharged at the rank of sergeant on December 16, 1945. Following military service he moved to the village of Holland Patent, then to his present home in the early 1950s. For fifty years Mr. Williams was a member of the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipe Fitting Industry of the United States and Canada. He retired from Plumbers & Fitters Local #79 of Utica. During his career he worked as a welder on major construction projects throughout northern New York. On February 11, 1945, Joseph was united in marriage with Dorothea Luretta Jones at Tompkins Chapel on the campus of the Masonic Home in Utica. It was a happy and blessed union of 47 years until Dorothea passed away on August 8, 1992. During Joe's retirement he spent many hours building bluebird houses and taking care of the bluebirds. He visited each house every day and checked on the birds. As soon as the birds left, he prepared the houses for the next bluebird family. Joseph was a member of the Leon R. Roberts Post 161 American Legion, Holland Patent. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jo Ann and Walter Tomasik; his granddaughter and special friend Amy; and great-grandson Matthew, who was his buddy. Joe was predeceased by his parents, his brothers Carl and Jim, and his sister Sara Wesseldine. The family wishes to extend appreciation to Stephanie Tomasik; special friends, Ernie and Sharon Hugg; Warren, Nancy, and Sheri Perry; Craig, Therese and the staff of Okey-Dokey's; Norm Kirk; Lloyd Miller; Scotty Schram; Larry Bogan; Pete and Annie Cummings; Nancy Baum; and Ellie Miga A special appreciation is extended to the members of the Holland Patent Hose Company Rescue, members of Prospect Volunteer Ambulance Inc., Oneida County Sheriff's Department officers Sege and Kane; and Carl Trainor of Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. at this difficult time. His Funeral will be Saturday, February 21, at 11:30 a.m. at the Dimbleby, Friedel, Williams, & Edmunds Funeral Home, 7944 Steuben Street, Holland Patent, where the Reverend Paul Credle will officiate. A spring interment will be in Townsend Cemetery, Stittville. Calling hours are Friday 3-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Contributions in Joe's memory may be made to Holland Patent Hose Company or the Remsen-Steuben Historical Society, PO Box 284, Remsen, NY 13438. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Arrangements are in care of Trainor Funeral Home, Inc., Boonville, NY.