Theodore “Ted” Williams, 81, died on February 17, 2011, in Indio, California. He was born February 9, 1930 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, the son of J.O. and Eunice Farriel Williams.
His family moved to Stigler, Oklahoma, where he attended school and also played and lettered four years in basketball and lettered three years in football. He served as senior class president and graduated with the class of 1948.
He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1950 and served in the Korean War from 1951-52. He was awarded the Korean War Service Medal from the Korean government and the Presidential Citation Medal that the First Marine Division was awarded in World War II. Mr. Williams was a member of the First Marine Division in Korea.
After discharge from service, he enrolled in Panhandle A&M College in Goodwell, Oklahoma, in 1952. While there he met his future wife, Patricia A. McPherson, and they shared 58 years together. He graduated from Panhandle A&M with the class of 1955 and then taught school and coached basketball at a junior high in Amarillo, Texas.
He moved to Bolivar and owned and operated an Otasco Hardware store. He then moved to Indio, California where he was employed as an elementary teacher. Mr. Williams also was a 32nd-degree mason and was a member of the Choctaw Indian Tribe of Oklahoma and the Methodist church in Indio, California.
After retirement, he and his wife bought an RV trailer and spent summers in Macks Inn, Idaho. He enjoyed woodcarving, attending church and fellowshipping with church members.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his twin brother, Tom; an older brother, James O.; one sister, Geraldine; and his grandparents and uncle and aunts who are buried at Stigler and Whitefield, Oklahoma cemeteries.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia; one son, Oren, of Bolivar; three grandchildren, Jamie, Stephanie, and Deborah; three great grandchildren; and two brothers, W.W. “Pat” of Paso Robles, California and Carl Ray of Lompoc, California.
Graveside inurnment services will be Saturday, July 16, 2011 at 10:00 am at the Hooker Cemetery with Rev. Todd Bergman of the Turpin United Methodist Church officiating. Roberts Brothers Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Condolences may be left at robertsbrothersfuneralhome.com.
