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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Memories of a life filled with joyful times and |
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meaningful accomplishments remain to comfort the family and friends |
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of Oscar Ray Williams of San Antonio, who died on April 10, 2008, at |
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the age of 76; and |
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WHEREAS, A "leap year" baby, Oscar Williams was born in |
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Temple on February 29, 1932, to Andrew and Eva Williams; he spent |
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his early childhood years in Smithville, where he was raised by his |
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aunt and uncle, Sally and the Reverend Charlie Clark, before |
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returning to Temple and graduating from Dunbar Meridith High |
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School; and |
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WHEREAS, On May 3, 1951, Mr. Williams was joined in matrimony |
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to his childhood sweetheart, Doloris Blair, whom he had known since |
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the fifth grade; together they shared nearly 57 years of marriage |
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and welcomed two daughters and five grandchildren into their |
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family; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams served his country as a member of the |
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U.S. Army, spending two years stationed in Germany during the |
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Korean War; honorably discharged in 1953, he moved to San Antonio in |
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June of that year and enrolled at St. Philip's College, where he |
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studied tailoring and art; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Williams worked for several employers before |
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embarking on a notable 35-year career at Kelly Air Force Base; he |
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retired in 1990 from his post as the section chief of the DSTEP |
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Prevention Section after having achieved a perfect record of |
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attendance during his lengthy tenure at the base; he also served on |
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the board of the City of San Antonio Zoning Commission, where he |
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demonstrated similar diligence and never missed a meeting; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his retirement, he became the grounds |
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manager at Antioch Missionary Baptist Church; he also contributed |
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to the church as a deacon, as its first photographer, and as |
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superintendent of the Sunday school, and as chair of finance and |
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benevolence and of the Antioch Community Transformation Network; in |
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turn, the church honored his commitment by placing him on the Humble |
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Beginnings Calendar and by dedicating a portion of the Antioch |
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Sports Complex as the Deacon Oscar "Daddy Ray" Williams Activity |
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Room; in addition to his work and church activities, Mr. Williams |
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enjoyed a range of hobbies, including gardening, photography, |
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collecting cars, and world travel; and |
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WHEREAS, Ray Williams lived a rich and fulfilling life, |
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characterized by deep devotion to his family, his church, his |
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country, and his community, and he will be greatly missed by all who |
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knew and loved him; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the memory of Oscar Ray Williams |
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and extend sincere condolences to the members of his family: to his |
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wife, Doloris Williams; to his daughters, Gail Rayetta Collins and |
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Carla Denise Walker; to his grandchildren, Brandy Gail and Jamie |
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Denise Collins, Andrea DeRaechelle, and Dominique DeRay Walker; to |
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his sisters, Juanita Smith and her husband, Smitty, and Mary |
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Armstrong and her husband, Roscoe; to his brothers, Wilbert |
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Williams and his wife, Lilly, and Travis Williams and his wife, |
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Else; to his sons-in-law, James Edward Collins and Andre Ronell |
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Walker; to his sister-in-law, Johnnie Mae Blair; to his |
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brothers-in-law, Jimmy Lee and his wife, Sue, Thomas Blair and his |
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wife, Pat, and Johnny Blair; and to his other relatives and friends; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for his family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Oscar Ray |
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Williams. |