Tommie Walter Williams, Sr., 88 of Daleville and formerly of Lexington, beloved Dad, Pa-Paw and Great Pa-Paw, passed away at his residence on March 31, 2011.

Tommie had resided in Lexington from 1955 until 2006 at which time, due to declining health, he and Evelyn, his devoted wife for 66 years, who passed away on August 2, 2010, chose to become residents at The Glebe Retirement Community.

He was born February 12, 1923 in Roseland, Louisiana, a son of the late George Washington Williams and Ethel Hayden Williams.

Tommie was a licensed funeral director, having served in this capacity for nearly 50 years before his retirement. He was a past president of the Shenandoah Valley Funeral Directors Association; a past Worthy Patron of Rockbridge Chapter # 125, Order of the Eastern Star, Buena Vista and was a member of Mt. City Lodge # 67, A.F. & A.M., Lexington.

Tommie was a former member and served on the board of deacons of First Christian Church, Lynchburg. He was a faithful member and former deacon of Manly Memorial Baptist Church, Lexington from 1955 until 2006 and then a loving member of Troutville Baptist Church, Troutville.

Following his graduation in 1940 from Chesbrough High School, Kentwood, Louisiana, Tommie soon thereafter worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) before enlisting in the US Navy in January 1941. He served throughout WWII until being honorably discharged in March 1946 as a chief pharmacist mate(pa).

One of Tommie's tours of duty was being assigned to the aircraft carrier USS Tulagi aboard which he served for two and a half years. During this time the USS Tulagi was involved in extensive military action in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and Pacific theatres of the war. Among the medals Tommie was awarded were Victory, World War II, Asiatic-Pacific with three battle stars, Philippine Liberation with one star, the European-African Middle Eastern with one star and the American Defense.

In addition to his parents and wife, Tommie was preceded in death by four brothers and seven sisters.

Surviving are a daughter and son-in-law, Alice Juanita and Carter McCrowell, of Virginia Beach; two sons, Tommie W. Williams, Jr., of Roanoke and Michael M. Williams, Sr., of Rocky Mount; one brother, Jesse Daniel Williams of Houston, Texas; seven grandchildren, Monica Maria Hilderbrand, of Virginia Beach; Sara Elizabeth Graziano, of Stuarts Draft; Alicia Leigh Yokoyama, of Portland, Oregon; Michael M. Williams, Jr. and Shannon Marie Reiter, both of Roanoke; Alison W. Litzenmayer, of Newport News and Jacob T. McCrowell, of Virginia Beach; thirteen great grandchildren; two great-great grandchildren; numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be conducted 2 p.m. Monday, April 4, 2011 at Troutville Baptist Church with Rev. Carol Johnston officiating followed with Masonic Rites by Melrose Lodge # 139, A.F. & A.M., Roanoke. The family will receive friends one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment with Military honors will follow the service at Sherwood Memorial Park, Salem. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to Troutville Baptist Church, P.O. Box 309, Troutville, VA 24175 or The American Cancer Society, 1079 C, Spruce Street, Martinsville, VA 24112.

Arrangements are being handled by Flora Funeral Service and Cremation Center, Rocky Mount / Smith Mountain Lake.