Obituaries

January 2, 1928 to March 17, 2021

WINAMAC - Carl Cotner Williams, 93, of Winamac, passed quietly away at 6 p.m., Wednesday, March 17, at his daughter’s home near Winamac.

He was born Jan. 2, 1928 in Earl Park (Benton County), to the late Cotner C. and Effie E. Day Williams. He graduated from Earl Park High School in 1945. He married Audrey Ann Wagner of Briggsville, WI on April 12, 1953 in Milwaukee.

He is survived by:
Deb DeSchepper, Winamac, Daughter
Lisa (Steve) Burton,  Murfreesboro, TN, Daughter
Jesse (Erica) Rude, Kewanna, Grandson
Caitlin DeSchepper, Heber City, UT, Granddaughter
Bridget Ruhl, Swayzee, Granddaughter
Josh Ruhl, Noblesville, Grandson
Ory Maxwell, Southgate, KY, Grandson
Clint (Chelsea) Maxwell, Carmel, Grandson
Olivia Rude, Great-Grandaughter
Hunter and Ava Taylor, Great-Grandchildren
McKayla and Emily Hughes, Great-Granddaughters
Aleah Trigg, Great-Granddaughter

Preceded in death by:
Tom E. Williams, Brother
George D. Williams, Brother
Steve Williams, Son
Linda Davis, Daughter
David Williams, Son

As a young man, Mr. Williams worked for his father changing tires on the road for the various truck fleets that they serviced between Chicago and Indianapolis. In 1950, he enlisted in U.S. Army. In April of 1951, he was shipped to Korea where he served in the Third Combat Engineers, 24th Division. He returned home in 1952. Following his marriage, the couple lived in Earl Park for one year. In 1954, they moved to the Williams’ family farm (since 1877), five miles east of Winamac. There they raised five children who all grew to adulthood on the family farm. Mr. Williams started driving a school bus in 1956 for the Fairview School in Harrison Township. When Fairview consolidated with Winamac Schools in 1967, he got a bus route with Winamac schools, where he drove until 2012 when he retired with 58 years under his belt.

Mr. Williams also worked for ASCS in its Winamac office measuring grain bins and set aside acreage beginning in the 1980s. He retired from ASCS in 2011. He is very much responsible for repopulating the bluebirds in Pulaski County. He placed and maintained over 200 bluebird houses in the county for many years. He was always excited to get people started in bird watching. He made houses for all kinds of creatures from birds to bats. He was a beekeeper and enjoyed selling his honey at the local farmer’s market. He enjoyed fishing and spending time in the woods cutting trees.

Visitation will be from 2 to 6 p.m., Sunday, March 21, at Frain Mortuary in Winamac. The funeral service will be at 11 a.m., Monday, March 22, at the funeral home with Rev. Edward Clark officiating. Burial will be at Pleasant Hill Cemetery at Lake Bruce. The VFW and American Legion will conduct military graveside services.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Hoots to Howls Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Online condolences may be offered in the guestbook at www.frainmortuary.com.