Albert Williams

On Tuesday, June 11, 2013, Albert Williams, 88, passed away at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Northampton, Massachusetts, with family and friends with him.  Albert was born in Redruth, Cornwall, England, in 1925. He immigrated to the United States with his mother and three siblings in 1929.  Albert was raised in Athol and enlisted in the Army in 1943. He was naturalized as a citizen and then served in several battle campaigns: Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Rhineland, and the Ardennes-Alsace. He was missing in action and presumed dead for a time before he was found and reunited with American Forces. Wounded and suffering from PTSD, he was sent to a Texas hospital, treated for his wounds, and was honorably discharged as a disabled veteran in 1945. He was awarded five medals including the Silver Star. Albert was an entrepreneur.  He owned Bert’s Dry Cleaning and Laundry and “Poor Bert’s Restaurant. He later worked for the Housing and Urban Development Authority and then served as the Building Official for the City of Gardner before retiring. He loved spending time with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.  He enjoyed being at Queen Lake with all his family. Albert was predeceased by his mother, Elizabeth (Bessie) Jory Williams and father, Thomas Williams, his twin sister, Betty, his two brothers, Simon and Thomas and, his wife and mother of his children, Shirley Ellis.  He is also predeceased by his long time friend, Christine Leadbetter. He leaves behind three sons: Chris and his wife, Barbara, of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Keith and his wife, Nancy, of Athol, and Scott of Northampton. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Eric Williams, Jasmine Lopez, Inessa Williams Linson, Ashley Williams, Meghan Williams and Jeffrey Williams, as well as seven great grandchildren. In addition he also leaves behind two very dear and lifelong friends who cared for him for the last several years: Joan Kraemer and Linda Knipe. In lieu of calling hours or a funeral service there will be a grave side service at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Winchendon, Massachusetts, Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. $(document).ready(function(){ });