Celebration

of the Life

of

 Whalley Herbert Williams

August 6, 1924 - April 11, 2013

 

Memorial Slideshow

Music by Whalley's daughter-in-law, Karen FitzGerald (c)

 

Whalley Herbert Williams, 88, of Green Valley, Arizona, died on Thursday, April 11, 2013 at La Posada in Green Valley.

Whalley Williams was born on August 6, 1924, in Detroit, Michigan, the son of Floyd and Lillian (Mihlader) Williams. He grew up in Ferndale, Michigan, with his brothers Floyd Jr. and John, and sister, Joyce.

Whalley graduated from Lincoln High School in Ferndale before joining the Army and serving overseas during World War II as a member of the 78th Infantry Division (“Lightning”). He was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and many other medals. Upon returning to the States, he attended Lawrence Institute of Technology in Southfield, Michigan, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering.

On April 1, 1949, he married Anne Mary Schubert of Detroit.

He worked for General Motors for 37 years as a die designer in the Detroit area until his retirement in 1987. He and Anne moved to Green Valley, Arizona, in 1987 where he continued to stay active as a volunteer for over 24 years at the Casa Maria Soup Kitchen in Tucson and at the White Elephant in Green Valley. He loved to travel and to be in nature, loves that he shared with his wife and children, and he and his wife continued to travel throughout the world during their retirement. He enjoyed studying the Civil War and genealogy, playing golf, camping, and watching baseball and basketball.

Whalley is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Anne; children, Kathrine (Philip) Steel of Rochester, Michigan, Michael of Tucson, Margaret Williams of Mt. Pleasant, Michigan and Theodore (Karen) of Bellingham, Washington; his brother, John, and sister, Joyce; grandchildren, Michael, Tracey, Alan, David and Aria; and great grandchildren, Matthew and Sarah. He was predeceased by his parents and brother, Floyd Jr., and niece Bonnie Petack.

God’s Garden

God looked around His garden
And He found an empty place.
And then He looked down
upon the earth,
And saw your tired face.
He put His arms around you,
And lifted you to rest.
God's garden must be beautiful,
He always takes the best.
He knew that you were suffering,
He knew you were in pain,
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again.
He saw the road was getting rough,
And the hills were hard to climb,
So He closed your weary eyelids,
And whispered "Peace be thine."
It broke our hearts to lose you.
But you didn't go alone,
For part of us went with you,
The day God called you home.
~author unknown~

 

 

 

Videos of the Memorials Celebrating the Life of Whalley Herbert Williams

 

At La Posada Retirement Community in Green Valley on June 1, 2013

 

 

At the Home of Kathy and Phil in Rochester, Michigan on June 30, 2013

 

 

 

At the Pipeline Rapids on the RIfle RIver near Sterling, Michigan on July 2, 2013

This is Whalley's last trip down the Rifle River but this time

he will go further than ever before. He will go to the Ocean.

 

 

Part of Whalley's Family Tree

(click on image to see it larger)