Ivan Eugene Williams was born the pride and joy of his parents, the late Ivan Chester Williams and Lillian Mae Williams-Rainey, in Excelsior Springs, Missouri on 16 October 1934. He was called from sunrise to sunset on 24 February 2016.
Ivan was an amazing son, husband, father, granddaddy, big brother, uncle and cousin to all of the Williams-Rainey family.
His journey began when he was seventeen. He enlisted into the U.S. Air Force on 19 October 1951 for four years and transferred to the U.S. Army on 11 January 1957 for which he served sixteen years and retired as a Staff Sergeant at Fort Carson, CO on 31 May 1973. During his military career Ivan met Edith Mae Pepper when he was stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. They married on September 24, 1962. Ivan was deployed to Vietnam on 16 July 1965 and was wounded in action on 18 December 1965. Ivan was then transferred to the U.S. Army Hospital, Camp Zama, Japan. On 15 December 1970, Ivan was reassigned to Fort Carson, CO and continued a wonderful military career until 31 May 1973, Ivan retired and hung up his boots.
During his glorious service he was awarded the following badges: Expert Infantry, Senior Parachutist, Driver Badge; and the following medals: National Defense Service, Korean Service, United Nations Service, Vietnam Service, Purple Heart, Combat Infantry, Armed Forces Expeditionary, and the Good Conduct Medal.
During his whole career the one thing he loved the most about the service was being a Jumpmaster in the 101st Airborne Infantry Battalion where he could tell his Battalion Commander and Command Sergeant Major to “follow me.”
Ivan was a member of “Be Real Ministries” where he leaves to mourn his family in Christ. He will be missed by many, who are too numerous to mention.
Left to mourn his departure is his wife, Edith Williams; children: Jean McIntosh (Donnie), Annette Williams, Lisa Williams (Tito), Kevin Williams (special daughter in-law Emma), and Monica Williams; brothers: David Rainey and Ross Rainey; sisters: Virginia Johnson and Maude Fleming. He has eighteen grandchildren, thirty-one great grands and two great–great grands.
He is preceded in death by his brothers: Richard Williams and George Rainey; and sisters: Nora Williams, Elizabeth Williams-Derritt and Carrie Rainey.