Extracted from The Longview News-Journal (Longview, TX)
Sunday, July 23, 2006

Williams, Brian G.

Brian G. Williams, 73, of Ville Platte, Louisiana, died Friday, July 21, 2006, at his residence. Burial, with full military honors, will be today, July 24, 2006, at 10 a.m. at Lakeview Memorial Gardens in Longview, Texas. Visitation was held Sunday from 3-5 p.m. at Lakeview Funeral Home.

Brian grew up in Grant Parish, Louisiana, and graduated from Montgomery High School in 1951. After graduation, he joined the U.S. Air Force and served for 20 years, attaining the rank of technical sergeant. During his military career, he served at numerous stateside and overseas locations. His last overseas assignment was on the island of Taiwan. During that time, he participated in 61 combat missions in the Vietnam combat area, earning three air medals plus other medals and citations.

Following retirement from the U.S. Air Force in 1971, he and his wife, Jewel (Tincy) Williams, deceased, and their five children lived in Longview, Texas, where Brian was the public relations director of Good Shepherd Hospital. His wife died there in 1974. In 1979, he returned to Louisiana and worked as the manager of a propane company in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Due to a medical condition, Brian lost one of his legs in 1986. Never one to let a handicap hold him back, he continued to live a happy and productive life, visiting with his children, grandchildren, and his many friends.

He is survived by three sons, Brian Joel Williams and wife, Lesle, of Longview, Paul Williams and wife, Dianna, of Salado and Danny Williams of Salado; daughters, Teresa Hogan and husband, Steve, of Beaumont, and Lisa Deen and husband, Allen, of Ville Platte, Louisiana; brother, Fred Williams and wife, Jo Alice, of San Angelo, Texas; sister, Ruby O'Neal of St. Cloud, Florida; 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

At the time of his death, Brian wanted to be sure that the following good friends were remembered: special cousins, Virgil and Lillie Williams of Colfax, Louisiana; and good friends, Grover Stroud, Gerald Crayon, Arlan Antee, Edgar Hunter and Junior Gentry, all of Montgomery, Louisiana. There is also Jimmy Cardozier of Houma, Louisiana, Jackie Smith of Nederland, Texas, and Skipper Dodson of Toledo Bend, Louisiana.