Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Williams, Edwin Carrol August 6, 1949
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/mi/mifiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Patricia Currigan currigan1932@comcast.net February 17, 2022, 10:31 am

Lake Odessa Wave-Thursday August 11, 1949

Military Services For Edwin Williams
Freeport Youth Killed In Leap At Barry County Fair.

Services for Edwin Carrol Williams, 20, who plummeted to his death when his 
parachute failed to open completely as he made a jump before a crowd at the 
Barry county Fair Saturday afternoon, were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday from the 
United Brethren Church at Freeport.

Edwin Williams died in a double  jump with his brother, Eugene, 23, who landed 
safely although his parachute touched a high tension power line in the 
fairgrounds infield.

Parents of the men, Mr and Mrs Lafe Williams of Freeport Rt. 1, were among 2,500 
who witnessed the death leap. Edwin landed in a foot and a half of water at a 
fish hatchery pond a half mile from the grandstand.

Richard Petras, CAA Inspector at Grand Rapids, said Sunday that Edwin's 
parachute had been checked before Saturday's jump and had been found in perfect 
condition.

Edwin, a veteran of 22 jumps, had jumped safely Thursday and Friday. Eugene, who 
had 46 jumps to his credit, jumped at the fair for the first time Saturday.

Lake Odessa residents will remember them as the boys who tossed a coin to 
determine who would make the jump at the Lake Odessa fair here Decoration day. 
Eugene made the jump at that time.

Both brothers were veterans of the 188th parachute division and had served in 
Japan.

Edwin  was born Nov. 2, 1928, a son of Mr and Mrs Lafe Williams of Route 1, 
Freeport. He was in service for 18 months, entering Nov. 2, 1946.

Surviving beside the parents are eight brothers, Lafe, Jr. Richard, Walter, 
Lloyd, Larry, James, Michael and Eugene and a sister Charline.

Burial was inLakeside cemetery,Lake Odessa.

Additional Comments:
Lakeside Cem.#11-1426-3

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/mi/ionia/obits/w/williams42550nob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/mifiles/

File size: 2.3 Kb