1927
Raymond
2017
Raymond "Ray" Williamson
June 2, 1927 — September 12, 2017
Raymond Fred “Ray” Williamson passed away peacefully on September 12, 2017 at 3:00 pm at his home on the family farm where he lived his entire life. He was born June 2, 1927 in Prairie Township to Fred Williamson and E. Fern Yeiter Williamson.
He married Margret E. “Marg” Smith on December 14, 1947. They were married for 54 years prior to her passing on January 14, 2002. He married Denyse M. (Bolt) Blankenship on March 29, 2003; she survives.
Ray attended school in Atwood, Indiana. He was a member of Warsaw Church of God and the Atwood Lions Club. He was the Kosciusko County Fireman of the Year in 1973.
As a child, he helped his dad along with neighbors cut blocks of ice from Hoffman Lake to deliver to local residents for use in their ice boxes. They stored ice over the summer packed in sawdust in the ice house. Ray designed and built a tandem hook-up that connected two tractors together which enabled him to pull six, 16-inch plows.
Ray was a retired farmer and known for raising llamas; many of them beautiful and grand champion show llamas. He and his late wife Marg, started the Hoosier Llama Lovers 4-H Club back in the 1980’s.
Ray is survived by his wife, Denyse Williamson, Atwood; two sons: Mike (Rhonda) Williamson of Atwood, and Gary Williamson of Elkhart; three stepchildren: Cheryl Berry-Blankenship of Muscoda, Wisconsin, Charlie (Glenda) Blankenship of Port Orchard, Washington, and Cynthia (David) Laramie of San Diego, California; seven grandchildren: Amber Verble, Nick Williamson, Brandon (Jenn) Williamson, Eric Williamson, Brian (Ashley) Williamson, Dylan Williamson, and Cole Williamson; nine step-grandchildren: Richie (Christie) Brown, Brandy (Brandon) Ley, Sarah Berry, Heather (Jan) Kristoffersen, Jake (Ashley) Blankenship, Zachery (Meggan) Blankenship, Abby Blankenship, Lucy Laramie, and Philip Laramie; 11 great grandchildren; 7 step great grandchildren; brother, Arden Williamson of Pierceton; and sister, Lucille Grimm of North Manchester.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Margret Williamson, January 14, 2002; two brothers, Lester Williamson and George Williamson; and sister, Velma Gruenwald.
A time of sharing with the family will take place on Friday, September 22nd from 2 to 4 pm, and 6 to 8 pm at Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan Street, Warsaw.
A funeral service celebrating Ray’s life will take place on Saturday, September 23rd at 10:30 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at Warsaw Church of God, 1059 Rozella Road, Warsaw, IN 46580. Pastors Tim Kumfer and Jerry Yoder of Warsaw Church of God will officiate. Burial will follow in Stony Point Cemetery, Atwood, Indiana.
Memorials may be made to the following: Warsaw Church of God, 1059 Rozella Rd. Warsaw, IN 46580 or Atwood Lions Club, 213 Hovey Street, Atwood, Indiana 46502.
He married Margret E. “Marg” Smith on December 14, 1947. They were married for 54 years prior to her passing on January 14, 2002. He married Denyse M. (Bolt) Blankenship on March 29, 2003; she survives.
Ray attended school in Atwood, Indiana. He was a member of Warsaw Church of God and the Atwood Lions Club. He was the Kosciusko County Fireman of the Year in 1973.
As a child, he helped his dad along with neighbors cut blocks of ice from Hoffman Lake to deliver to local residents for use in their ice boxes. They stored ice over the summer packed in sawdust in the ice house. Ray designed and built a tandem hook-up that connected two tractors together which enabled him to pull six, 16-inch plows.
Ray was a retired farmer and known for raising llamas; many of them beautiful and grand champion show llamas. He and his late wife Marg, started the Hoosier Llama Lovers 4-H Club back in the 1980’s.
Ray is survived by his wife, Denyse Williamson, Atwood; two sons: Mike (Rhonda) Williamson of Atwood, and Gary Williamson of Elkhart; three stepchildren: Cheryl Berry-Blankenship of Muscoda, Wisconsin, Charlie (Glenda) Blankenship of Port Orchard, Washington, and Cynthia (David) Laramie of San Diego, California; seven grandchildren: Amber Verble, Nick Williamson, Brandon (Jenn) Williamson, Eric Williamson, Brian (Ashley) Williamson, Dylan Williamson, and Cole Williamson; nine step-grandchildren: Richie (Christie) Brown, Brandy (Brandon) Ley, Sarah Berry, Heather (Jan) Kristoffersen, Jake (Ashley) Blankenship, Zachery (Meggan) Blankenship, Abby Blankenship, Lucy Laramie, and Philip Laramie; 11 great grandchildren; 7 step great grandchildren; brother, Arden Williamson of Pierceton; and sister, Lucille Grimm of North Manchester.
Ray was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Margret Williamson, January 14, 2002; two brothers, Lester Williamson and George Williamson; and sister, Velma Gruenwald.
A time of sharing with the family will take place on Friday, September 22nd from 2 to 4 pm, and 6 to 8 pm at Titus Funeral Home, 2000 E. Sheridan Street, Warsaw.
A funeral service celebrating Ray’s life will take place on Saturday, September 23rd at 10:30 a.m. with visitation one hour prior at Warsaw Church of God, 1059 Rozella Road, Warsaw, IN 46580. Pastors Tim Kumfer and Jerry Yoder of Warsaw Church of God will officiate. Burial will follow in Stony Point Cemetery, Atwood, Indiana.
Memorials may be made to the following: Warsaw Church of God, 1059 Rozella Rd. Warsaw, IN 46580 or Atwood Lions Club, 213 Hovey Street, Atwood, Indiana 46502.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Raymond "Ray" Williamson, please visit our flower store.
Guestbook
Visits: 72
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors