Lt. Col. Lawrence Robert "Larry" Williams, Usaf Ret. Obituary (1942

Lt. Col. Lawrence Robert Williams, USAF Ret., age 76 of Madison, Indiana entered this life on September 11, 1942 in Vincennes, Indiana, the son of the late James Lawrence and Dorothy Louise Fraumann Williams. Larry, as he was affectionately known, graduated from Evansville North High School in 1960 and earned a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Evansville in 1964, and later his Master of Business Administration in 1975. He was united in marriage to Carole Lee Carstens on July 3, 1965 in Oak Park, Illinois. This union of fifty-three years was later blessed with three daughters: Amy, Kate, and Molly. A member of the USAF ROTC in college, he entered the United States Air Force on March 4, 1965 in Evansville, Indiana, receiving his commission as an officer, rising to the rank of Captain. In his initial tour he completed training as a pilot in a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, OV-10 Bronco, F-4 Phantom II, F100 Super Sabre, as well as B-52 combat crew training and nuclear weapons delivery operations. He saw combat in Vietnam from June,1969-June,1970, serving as a Forward Air Controller. He flew 465 combat sorties, accumulating 729 combat hours and received two distinguished Flying Crosses and 13 Air Medals for his performance in combat. Larry transferred to the Indiana Air National Guard in June,1970. He became a full-time active guard/reserve member with the 181st Flight Group and was assigned as a Range Control Officer with Detachment 2 at the Jefferson Proving Ground, necessitating the family moving to Madison. His second period of active duty ended with his retirement on August 31, 1992 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Larry continued his career in aviation becoming the corporate pilot for Madison Chemical Company. He is fondly remembered for his kind and gentle ways; for his love of country; for his service to Trinity United Methodist Church; and as much as he loved being in the skies, he loved being with his family even more. Larry left us on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, at 3:05 a.m. at River Terrace Health Campus in Madison, Indiana. Click Here for Tribute Video HIS FAMILY Larry will be missed by his wife, Carole Lee Carstens Williams of Madison, Indiana; his daughters, Amy Scott and her husband Tom of Louisville, Kentucky, Kate Williams and her husband, Wen Tong Lin of Columbus, Ohio, and Molly Craney and her husband Jason of Martinsville, Indiana; his grandchildren, Jack, Mason, Nora, Silas, Samira, Miles, Amelia, Lena, and Lincoln; his brothers, Richard Williams and his wife Pat of Evansville, Indiana, and Max Williams and his wife Cindy of Evansville, Indiana; his brother in law, Jim Carstens and his wife, Sally of Avon Lake, Ohio; and his sister in law Judy Miedema and her husband, Roger of Grand Haven, Michigan. He was preceded in death by his parents, James Lawrence and Dorothy Louise Fraumann Williams. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Friday, December 21, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. by the Reverend Dennis Ingle at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 412 West Main Street in downtown Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana. Full military honors will be performed by the United States Air Force Ceremonial Unit and the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion. VISITATION Friends may call Thursday from 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, and Friday from 9:30 a.m. until the time of service at Trinity United Methodist Church. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity United Methodist Church. Cards will be available at the funeral home and at the church. div style="width: 100%; text-align: center;">Secure">http://www.paysimple.com/security.html">Secure Payments