Our family is saddened by the passing, in his 96th year, of Keith Williams. The only child of Roy and Ruby Williams, he was the beloved partner of Helen Williams (February 13, 2020) for 66 years. Keith was the anchor of our small family which includes his son Gary Williams (Ruth), of Campbellville. He is survived by brother-in-law Jim McDonald (Muriel) and predeceased by brother-in-law Bob McDonald (Alice), all of Tillsonburg.
Born in Fairground and raised in Mt. Elgin, Keith started his working career in auto sales and service, in Leamington, Burford and Tillsonburg. He also drove Art Whitesell’s starting gate at local horse racing tracks, including Dufferin Park Race Track in Toronto and Western Fair Raceway in London. His life-long love of horses meant spending many evenings with friends and family attending the races in London and later Campbellville, as well as the Little Brown Jug in the U.S., with a fall tradition of a family trip to Norfolk County Fair to watch the heavy horse show.
A proud resident of Straffordville for 59 years, Keith worked at Lyle Grant’s garage before operating an insurance business in the village until retirement. Surrounded by life-long friends and great neighbours for decades, retirement was highlighted by many visits in the driveway of their home, where he revelled in the hot summer weather whenever he could.
Keith and Helen moved to Harvest Crossing in Tillsonburg in 2018. Many thanks to the staff of Harvest Crossing for their care, particularly after Helen’s passing, and to the staff of Tillsonburg District Memorial Hospital for looking after Keith following hip surgery in 2020. Special thanks to all the staff at Maple Manor who made his last year as rewarding and content as possible.
Keith was proud of his son, and always enjoyed wearing the latest ball cap from Gary’s travels, and sharing a big bowl of popcorn. However, through thick and thin, nothing put a smile on Keith’s face quicker than a visit from his favourite daughter-in-law Ruth, who has enriched all our lives with her presence, thoughtful guidance through Keith’s health needs, undying love of family, and elderberry pie and tarts! Keith cherished his friends and neighbours, and appreciated the visits, cards, letters, and kindness they provided. Keith’s was a life well lived. I am proud to be your son.
In keeping with Keith’s expressed wishes cremation has taken place. Further services are being organized, and will be published at a later date. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Maurice J. Verhoeve Funeral Homes – Burial and Cremation Services Inc., 262 Broadway Street, Tillsonburg (519)842-4238. Memorial donations can be made to Bayham United Church by cheque (mail to: Bayham United Church, P.O. Box 220, 9279 Duke St., Straffordville, ON, N0J 1Y0) or online (bayhamunitedchurchdonations@gmail.com), or to any charity of your choice through the verhoevefuneralhomes.com website. Condolences and favourite memories can be shared on the same verhoevefuneralhomes.com website.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Keith Williams October 29th 2021..
Death notice for the town of: Tillsonburg, Province: Ontario