Randall Williams
March 28, 1949 — May 30, 2013
Randall Royce Williams, son of Laverne D. And Darlene (Lyons) Williams, was born on March 28, 1949 in Logan, Iowa. He attended country school at the Sunny Slope Elementary School in rural Woodbine, Iowa through the seventh grade. He then attended Woodbine Community Schools and graduated with the class of 1967. Randy grew up helping on the family farm between Portsmouth and Woodbine milking cows twice a day. After high school, he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad out of Portsmouth, Iowa from 1967 to 1969.
Randy was then inducted into the United States Army February 4, 1969 at Fort Ord, California. He served his country during the Vietnam War as the head cook at Lenggries in Germany until January 27, 1971 when he received his honorable discharge. After serving his country, Randy attended the Sioux City Barber College in Sioux City, Iowa from 1971 to 1972. While attending barber school, Randy met his future bride, Judith K. Mead and they were married on June 17, 1972 at the United Methodist Church in Clark, South Dakota. To this union, three children were born: Michael, Tena and Jessica.
Upon completion of barber school, Randy served his barber apprenticeship at Nick’s Barber Shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa from 1972 to 1973. He then owned and operated Randy’s Barber Shop in Avoca from 1973 to 1985 with his wife. Randy then worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation out of the Avoca, Iowa Highway Maintenance Shop from 1985 until he took early retirement in 2008 due to his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Randy was active in the Avoca American Legion - Fred Funston Post No. 227 and Vietnam’s Last Man Club. He was a lifetime member of Optimists International and was recognized as an Outstanding Optimist Club Member of 1995-1996 for the state of Iowa. He was honored for his longtime service to the community and citizens of Avoca. Randy also served on the Pottawattamie County Fair Board for a number of years.
Randy died at his home in Avoca surrounded by his loving family on May 30, 2013 having attained the age of sixty-four years, two months and two days. He was preceded in death by his mother, Darlene Williams; his nephew, Scott Williams and his sister-in-law, Mary Williams.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Williams of Avoca, Iowa; his children: Michael Williams of Avoca, Iowa; Tena and her husband Aaron Massie of Underwood, Iowa and Jessica Williams of Des Moines, Iowa; his four grandchildren: Colin, Aubrie, Quinn and Delanie; his father, Laverne Williams of Woodbine, Iowa; his brothers: Rick Williams and his wife Pat of Missouri Valley, Iowa and Bruce Williams and his wife Vivian of Woodbine, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral Services were officiated by Pastor Eric Meissner at 1:00 P.M. on Monday June 3, 2013 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren: Colin, Aubrie, Quinn and Delanie. Serving as casket bearers were: Ron Mikels, Wayne Mikels, Brent Mikels, Chad Williams, Galen Mikels, Craig Williams, Zachary Williams and Bryan Berndt. Military Rites were conducted at the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa by the Avoca American Legion - Fred Funston Post No. 227.
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Randy was then inducted into the United States Army February 4, 1969 at Fort Ord, California. He served his country during the Vietnam War as the head cook at Lenggries in Germany until January 27, 1971 when he received his honorable discharge. After serving his country, Randy attended the Sioux City Barber College in Sioux City, Iowa from 1971 to 1972. While attending barber school, Randy met his future bride, Judith K. Mead and they were married on June 17, 1972 at the United Methodist Church in Clark, South Dakota. To this union, three children were born: Michael, Tena and Jessica.
Upon completion of barber school, Randy served his barber apprenticeship at Nick’s Barber Shop in Council Bluffs, Iowa from 1972 to 1973. He then owned and operated Randy’s Barber Shop in Avoca from 1973 to 1985 with his wife. Randy then worked for the Iowa Department of Transportation out of the Avoca, Iowa Highway Maintenance Shop from 1985 until he took early retirement in 2008 due to his diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Randy was active in the Avoca American Legion - Fred Funston Post No. 227 and Vietnam’s Last Man Club. He was a lifetime member of Optimists International and was recognized as an Outstanding Optimist Club Member of 1995-1996 for the state of Iowa. He was honored for his longtime service to the community and citizens of Avoca. Randy also served on the Pottawattamie County Fair Board for a number of years.
Randy died at his home in Avoca surrounded by his loving family on May 30, 2013 having attained the age of sixty-four years, two months and two days. He was preceded in death by his mother, Darlene Williams; his nephew, Scott Williams and his sister-in-law, Mary Williams.
He is survived by his wife, Judy Williams of Avoca, Iowa; his children: Michael Williams of Avoca, Iowa; Tena and her husband Aaron Massie of Underwood, Iowa and Jessica Williams of Des Moines, Iowa; his four grandchildren: Colin, Aubrie, Quinn and Delanie; his father, Laverne Williams of Woodbine, Iowa; his brothers: Rick Williams and his wife Pat of Missouri Valley, Iowa and Bruce Williams and his wife Vivian of Woodbine, Iowa; nieces and nephews; other relatives and many friends.
Funeral Services were officiated by Pastor Eric Meissner at 1:00 P.M. on Monday June 3, 2013 at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Avoca, Iowa. Honorary casket bearers were his grandchildren: Colin, Aubrie, Quinn and Delanie. Serving as casket bearers were: Ron Mikels, Wayne Mikels, Brent Mikels, Chad Williams, Galen Mikels, Craig Williams, Zachary Williams and Bryan Berndt. Military Rites were conducted at the Graceland Cemetery in Avoca, Iowa by the Avoca American Legion - Fred Funston Post No. 227.
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