Obituary of Thelma M. Williams

Thelma M. Williams of Binghamton Thelma M. Williams, 78, went to be with the Lord with her family at her side on November 22, 2008. She was born on September 24, 1930 in Binghamton, New York, the daughter of Herman and Marguerite Wills. She is survived by her loving husband of 58 years, R. Richard (Dick) Williams, Binghamton, N.Y.; three sons and daughters-in-law, Dan and Charity Williams, Binghamton, N.Y., Ken and Lori Williams, Africa, and Dennis and Monica Williams, Longview, Tex.; and her brother, Harry Wills, Lakeland, Fla. She is also survived by nine grandchildren, Sarah (Tolodziecki), Jayson, Steven, Holly, Ashley, Suzanne, Benjamin, Brittany (Portnoy) and Austin Williams; and six great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her brother, William Wills. Thelma was a member of Calvary Baptist Tabernacle of Vestal, N.Y. for 38 years. She also had a deep and longstanding interest in missions and Bible translation and personally spent time helping with mission projects in the Philippines, Peru, Alaska and North Carolina. In 1968, she started what became one of the largest Shaklee Product Distributorships in the northeast U.S. and loved few things more than traveling the country educating and training business associates. She relished the friendship of the hundreds of people she met along the way and stayed active in her business until earlier this year. Thelma led an energetic life and loved horseback riding, boating, fishing, hiking, swimming, sightseeing and traveling the country by motor home. She especially enjoyed entertaining guests, family and friends at their lake house at Sandy Pond, N.Y. The family will receive friends at Coleman & Daniels Funeral Home, 300 E. Main Street, Endicott, N.Y. from 6-8 p.m. on Friday, November 28, 2008. A Funeral Service will be held at Calvary Baptist Tabernacle, 729 Main Street, Vestal, N.Y. at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 29, 2008. Burial will be in Vestal Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to one of Thelma's favorite projects, the Francophone Initiative or Sign Language Survey, at Wycliffe Bible Translators, P.O. Box 628200, Orlando, Fla. 32862 or by donating to the project of your choice at www.wycliffe.org /donate.