Obituary of John L. Williams

Olmstedville: John L. Williams, Sr., 72, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, May 3, 2020 at Glens Falls Hospital after a brief and courageous fight with lung cancer. Born in Suffern on June 28, 1947, he was the son of Elizabeth Armstrong of North Creek and the late Leo Williams. He graduated from Suffern High School in 1965. As a child Dad and his family summered in Brant Lake, which is where his love for the Adirondacks started. In 1973 he bought his camp on Donnelly Road in Olmstedville. Here he passed that love on to his children. John was a self-employed contractor for many years, working with his sons as Williams Contracting, making many lifelong friends along the way. Dad loved working in the woods and logging with his son and grandsons. Dad was immensely proud, as we all were, of his 30 years of sobriety. He continued to help others battling addiction. He currently worked as the building and code enforcement officer for the towns of Minerva. As he always said, “Don’t sweat the small stuff.” Besides his father, he is predeceased by his step-mother, Margaret Williams, and step-father, Albert B. Armstrong. He is survived by his beloved life partner, Darlene Duffy of Olmstedville; his children, John (April) Williams, Jennifer (Gordon) Smith, Thomas (Nicole) Williams, Leo (Christine) Williams, Charly (Joseph) Wojtysiak; his grandchildren, Austin Williams, Cheyenne (Brian) Williams, Clayton Smith, and Bailey and Thomas Williams; Darlene’s children, Jason Kelly, Caroline Kelly, Theresa (Scott) Fish and her grandchildren, Meghan, Riley, Audrey, Claire, James and Calvin. He is also survived by silblings, Anna Roesch, Christopher (Carrie) Williams and step-siblings: Katy, Betsy and Mimi Krebs, and Albert Armstrong, Jr. At John’s request, there are no calling hours or funeral services scheduled. Celebration of Life for John will be conducted Saturday June 19, 2021 at 1:30pm at the Minerva Community Center, Route 28N, Minerva, NY 12853 John’s family would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the wonderful nurses in the ICU at Glens Falls Hospital and a special thank you to nurse, Pat Bollman. Expressions of sympathy may take the form of donations to the Minerva Volunteer Fire Company and Rescue Squad, PO Box 924, Minerva, NY 12851 or the Minerva Community Scholarship Fund, 145 West Rd., Olmstedville, NY 12857. Please visit www.alexanderfh.net for online guest book and condolences.