517th Parachute Regimental Combat Team John Claude Williams HQ Company, 3rd Batallion 1920-2008

From the Roanoke (VA) Times, October 25, 2008:

John Claude (Cloyd) Williams Jr., 87, of Pembroke, Va., went to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Wednesday, October 22, 2008. He enjoyed the happy reflections consequent upon a well-spent life and passed away with the hope of a glorious immortality. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edna Louise Atkins Williams, of a 61 year marriage residing at 134 Knob Mountain Road, Pembroke, Va.
He was born in Giles County in the community of Hoges Chapel on December 27, 1920, to the late John Claude (Cloyd) Williams Sr. and Lema Stiff Williams. His surviving siblings are Rachel Atkins, Jean Williams, Richard and Bonnie, Gerald and Sadie, and Robert and Lucille Williams. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Margaret and Mary Sue Williams.

A compassionate and loving father to his three children, a daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca Williams Yadav and Uday Yadav, of Lake Mary, Fla.; and two sons and daughters in-law, Roger and Ruth Williams, of Forest Hill, W.Va., and David and Pamela Williams, of Pembroke; seven grandchildren whom he thought the world of, they are Monica and Jeff Steiner, of Sarasota, Fla., Ursula and Ward Gunter, of Vero Beach, Fla., Ryan Yadav, of Lake Mary, Fla., Keith and Kim Williams, of Ripplemead, Kristin and Gary Mills, of Charleston, S.C., and Laura and Matthew Williams, of Pembroke. He has five great-grandchildren whom he adored, Mikaela Williams, Nicholas Mills, Max Steiner, Claire Steiner, and Lily Kate Gunter; and several nieces and nephews.

Claude was a member of the Newport First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He was an active member for over 60 years of Castle Rock Lodge #334 AF & AM which he served as Worshipful Master and District Deputy Grand Master. He also was an active member for over 60 years of Pearisburg Royal Arch Chapter #29, and the Order of Eastern Star, Pearis Chapter #124.

Claude was a graduate of Newport High School Class of 1940. He retired in 1980 from Celanese with 41 years of service. "Shorty" worked as an Operations Supervisor. He was a World War II Veteran who had enlisted in the Army on December 31, 1942, with the 517th Parachute Infantry Company, 17th Airborne Division. He fought in many battles before receiving injuries at the Battle of The Bulge for which he received The Purple Heart. He received his honorable discharge on November 30, 1946.