Chester T. “Chet” Williams, 101, of Greencastle, PA, passed away Thursday, September 5, 2024, in the Chambersburg hospital, Chambersburg, PA.
Born July 31, 1923, in Little Cove, formally known as just “The Cove”, he was the son of the late Chester and Gertrude (Zimmerman) Williams.
He and his wife, the late Dorothy M. (Stine) Williams were married December 22, 1945, in Chambersburg. They enjoyed 62 years of marriage together before Mrs. Williams passed away in February of 2007.
Chet worked as a farmer owning his own milk route and later worked in construction eventually becoming self employed.
A proud World War II veteran, Chet was drafted into the United States Army at a time when the nation needed it the most. He served valiantly, displaying extraordinary bravery and fortitude that earned him two Purple Hearts, the Good Conduct Medal, the Combat Infantry Badge, the American Campaign Medal, and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with Four Bronze Stars.
He was a member of Otterbein Church, Greencastle. He is the longest living member and a life member of the Rescue Hose Co, Greencastle, a life member of the Greencastle VFW and Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, a member of the Greencastle American Legion and the Masonic Lodge. A great outdoorsman, he enjoyed camping with his family and hunting, which he did with the Little Cove Hunting Club. He enjoyed some occasional woodworking and fashioning canes from limbs he gathered in the woods and making rocking chairs for his grandchildren’s doll babies. Chet was known for his knack of transforming ordinary moments into lasting memories and his infectious laughter. He had a talent for making everyone around him feel at ease and cherished. His secret to living such a long life? Hard work, a good wife, and sweetening his coffee and cereal with honey instead of sugar. He will be deeply missed by all those who knew him.
He is survived by his two sons, Larry Williams and his wife Kathy, Jeff Williams and his companion Carol Morgan, both of Greencastle; one daughter, Gretchen Nelson and her husband Gary of Greencastle, four grandchildren, Lisa, Nicole, Tara, and Jaye; four great-grandchildren, Morgan, Madyson, Ava, and Adlee and two great-great-grandsons, Elijah and Emilio, and his beloved cat, Bootsie.
In addition to his parents and wife, he is preceded in death by three sisters, Gertrude Zeger, Louise Bair, and Dorothy Williams.
Services will be held 11:00 A.M., Friday, September 13, 2024, in the Miller-Bowersox Funeral Home, 521 S. Washington St., Greencastle with Rev. David Rawley officiating. Burial will follow in Cedar Hill Cemetery, 37 S. Carlisle St, Greencastle, where full military honors will be conducted by VFW Post 1599 Honor Guard.
The family will receive friends from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., Thursday evening, where the members of Mt. Pisgah Lodge #443 F.&A.M. will perform a Masonic Funeral at 7:00 P.M. and again one hour prior to the service Friday morning in the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org; Rescue Hose Company No. 1 of Greencastle, 842 S. Washington St, Greencastle, PA 17225 or Mt. Pisgah Lodge No 443, 40 N. Carlisle St., Greencastle, PA 17225.
