Alvin "Deak" Wayne Williams

Wow …. 98 years of a wonderful life. Alvin (Deak) Wayne Williams lived at home, with his wife of 64 years, before his passing on December 3rd in Manhattan, Kansas from complications of pneumonia. He lived a full and accomplished life since his birth in Ashland Bottoms, Kansas on September 25, 1918 to Charles and Sadie (Burr) Williams. Alvin served in the Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1946 as an airplane electrical mechanic. He was an Expert marksman and awarded the Good Conduct Medal, the American Theater Ribbon, and the WWII Victory Ribbon. He then met the lovely Edna Hoft on a blind date, and married her on August 24th, 1952 in the St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Wheaton, Kansas. They had a beautiful daughter, Kay Elizabeth (1956) and two handsome sons, Stuart Charles (1958 – 2012) and Vincent Richard (1962). For over six decades, he was a loving husband and a great father. Alvin was a hard worker and entrepreneur, owning and operating four successful local businesses. From 1951 – 1962 he ran Williams Appliance with his brother Phillip, and then branched out to form Al Williams Appliance Repair. In addition, he founded the A-Green Coin laundry route service in 1965 – 1976, after which he purchased and operated the Fremont Coin-O-Matic laundromat until it was bought by the city for development in 2006. He loved the innocence of children, animals, the circus and parades. He was fully vested in The Boy Scouts of America where both his sons earned Eagle Scout and he secured many life-long friends. He was curiously fascinated with how things work, and had a natural gift for diagnosing trouble and solving problems on anything mechanical. He found great pleasure and purpose in making others happy and helping them better themselves. Every meal had to have gravy and it wasn’t desert without cream on it. Each night before bed, for over 6o years, he honed his skill to become an expert Oreo cookie dunker. Always community-minded, some of his acknowledgements include: •Collecting monies for land and spearheading the development of Northview Park in Manhattan in 1956. •Recognition from The Red Cross for providing emergency resuscitation saving the life of a four-year-old neighbor boy. •Serving as Elder and Chairman of the Congregation at the St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Manhattan. •Voted one of “Manhattan’s Most Admired People” in 1999. •Awarded the Manhattan Riley County preservation Alliance Award of Excellence for his participation in the historic preservation of Rocky Ford School in 2013. •Presented the Silver Beaver Award in 1993 for playing a major role in The Boy Scouts of America as a leader for over 45 years, including 24 years as the Pawnee District training Chairman. The youngest of five siblings, he is preceded in death by: his parents; his Sister Mable Johnston; Brothers Clifford, Lowell, and Phillip; and Son Stuart. Alvin is survived by: his wife Edna of the home; daughter Kay Williams / Colorado Springs, CO and son Vince Williams (Linda) / La Palma, CA; four grandchildren Daniel (Mindy) Williams / Manhattan, KS and Katelyn Kadevski (Simon) / Junction City, KS, and Emily and Ian Williams / La Palma, CA; and three great grandchildren Alice North and Oliver Kadevski / Junction City, KS and Tenley Williams / Manhattan, KS. His grandfather, Johnson S. Williams, founded the settlement of the Ashland Bottoms area and he worked hard to make sure the church and old schoolhouse are maintained to be utilized by community members. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made out to the Ashland Community Center thru Irvin-Parkview Funeral home. A Rememberance Celebration will be held at the Ashland Community Center on Tuesday, December 20th from 5-8 pm. Food will be available, so please take a few minutes of your busy holiday schedule to share with us your fond memories of Deak, and to hear ours. The funeral service will be on Wednesday, December 21st at the Ashland Community Church at 11 am, followed by his burial at the Ashland Community Cemetery.