Remembrance Obituary

Thomas “Tom” Roswell Williams went to be with the Lord, peacefully, with family by his side, at 10:02 a.m., April 14, 2022, at the age of 96, in Columbus, Georgia.  He was born to the late Elmer Ellsworth Williams and Margaret Kathryn Boyd on April 17, 1925, on the family farm in Nanticoke, New York.  Tom’s siblings at the time of his birth were his eighteen-year-old stepbrother, Ellsworth, his twelve-year-old sister, Dorothy, and two years later his brother Richard “Dick” was born.

Tom’s youth was impacted by the death of his father in 1940, when he was 15.  Upon registering for the draft in 1943, at the age of 18, he received a deferment from military service because he was considered necessary for the running of the farm, as the eldest son in a family with a recently deceased husband and father.  Tom met his future wife, Althea Corrine Hoag, in their homeroom class at Whitney Point High School.  While he was unable to complete his senior year due to his responsibilities on the farm, it did not keep him from marrying Althea on November 30, 1946, at Glen Aubrey Christian Church.

While Tom moved from the farm after getting married, the rigors of farm life had shaped him for the rest of his life.  He put tremendous effort into perfecting his carpentry skills, became proficient at designing homes, generating architectural construction plans, and contracting and building homes in the Binghamton, New York area.  He and his brother, along with their crews of skilled craftsmen were the proud builders of many homes during this period, including their own.

Tom and Althea raised their family of two daughters and one son: Linda, Tom, and Sue.  They became members of the First Assembly of God church where he served with distinction on the board, was a Sunday School teacher and the Sunday School Superintendent and was the coordinator and manager for numerous church maintenance and renovation projects.  Sunday morning services were followed each week with home cooked dinners at Grandma Hoag’s with many of Althea’s eight sisters and brothers and their growing families.  Lunch was always followed by a trip to Grandma Williams’ farm along with Tom’s brother and his family as well as, Dorothy and husband Chester as well as Aunt Nellie Boyd.

Tom enjoyed boating and fishing on his favorite lakes in the vicinity and hunting on the wooded and open lands of upstate New York, as well as on the farm itself.

In 1972, despite the scenic and seasonal grandeur of upstate New York, they moved to sunny Dunedin, Florida, and later built their permanent home in Clearwater.  Their daughter Linda and family joined them.  They became active in the First Assembly of God Clearwater church and developed close relationships with a group of loyal friends in whose company they would relax and enjoy good times together.

Tom passed the Florida State Contractor exam obtaining his certification and general contractor license.  This paved the way for him to become the construction manager on large commercial building projects, including churches and motels, located in Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Tampa, Brooksville, Apopka, and Tallahassee, Florida as well as Burlington, New Jersey.  Tom also participated in several church-sponsored missionary building trips to Central and South America.  He remained active in commercial and residential construction until he was over 80 years of age.

Tom and Althea were enthusiastic participants in countless family vacations and reunions occurring in all parts of the country.  In addition, they enjoyed a Nile River Cruise and explored the Pyramids of Giza when his son and family lived in Cairo, Egypt.

With increasing age, in 2017, Tom and Althea moved from Clearwater to Columbus, Georgia to be cared for by their daughter Susan.  In all, they enjoyed a full, happy, productive, and joyous life together for 74 years.

Tom is survived by his son, Thomas Robert Williams and his wife Mary of Houston, Texas, and his daughter Susan Jean Lacy and her husband Dennis of Columbus, Georgia, and his son in law Roger Grycrek of Largo, Florida.  He is also survived   by seven grandchildren: Lori Kelley, Kara Myers, Brad Lacy, Susanna James, Ryan Williams, Dustin Williams and Britney Russell.  In addition, he is survived by nine greatgrandchildren: Luke Kelley, Emily Kelley, Gavin Myers, Micaiah Lacy, Caleb Lacy, Abby James, Hannah James, Kenzie Russell and Beckett Russell.  Tom is predeceased by his daughter Linda Grycrek, at the age of 72, on Dec 6, 2020, and his wife Althea at the age of 95, on December 14, 2020.

Tom’s memorial service will be Friday, April 22, 2022, at 2:00 p.m. with a viewing at 1 pm, at First Assembly of God Clearwater, 1739 S Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Clearwater Fl 33756.  Interment following at Largo Cemetery, where Tom will be laid to rest next to his wife Althea.