Lester Dewey Williams, 91, of Munster, Ind., passed away peacefully the morning of Sunday, May 19, 2019, following a brief illness.
He was born May 16, 1928, in Belle Center, to Kenneth and Clara Rose Williams. He grew up on a farm in Belle Center, the oldest of seven children.
He received a bachelor of arts degree in political science from Bowling Green State University and later obtained an executive MBA at Harvard Business School.
He dedicated his life to public service, spending 37 years working in various positions for the Social Security Administration. He was conscientious, hard working and led a purposeful life, but he also had a sense of humor he shared with others.
A proud World War II veteran of the Armed Services, enlisting upon high school graduation, after the hostilities ended, he continued to serve at the Allied Control Authority in Berlin, Germany, where he met Ursula Ellen Kronenberg, whom he later married. She preceded him in death after 52 years of marriage and instilled in him a love of travel. The two of them were able to see much of the world together.
He will be greatly missed by his daughters, Renee Williams, Erica (Paul) Swegler and Eva (Steve) Haupt; grandchildren, Jennifer and Andrew Swegler and Melissa Seidel; and sisters, Joella Wolf, Ladonna Sue Lehman and Karyn Mosher.
He also was preceded in death by siblings, Charles Leon, Lewis and Wilma.
A memorial service will be held from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 13, at Hartsfield Village, 10000 Columbia Ave., Munster, Ind.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the National Geographic Society, the World Wildlife Fund and Heifer International.