Ralph Wyatt Williams

January 1st, 1929 saw Walter S and Ona Gayle (Anderson) Williams of Remington, IN welcome not only the New Year, but a son they would christen Ralph Wyatt Williams. The sixth of seven children who would survive infancy and challenging rural farm upbringing, which instilled both a solid work ethic and appreciation for value that would serve Ralph his entire life. He graduated Gilboa High School in 1947. Initially on an agricultural career track, in 1952 Ralph dutifully answered the polite request of his friends & neighbors at the local Draft Board to serve his country in the United States Army. Inducted and trained, he was stationed in Cold War Germany and rose to the rank of Corporal, making long time friends and memories. After honorable discharge, access to GI Bill benefits allowed Ralph to complete first a BS in Agriculture (1958) then an MS (1962) in Education from Purdue University and set him on what would be a lifelong teaching career. Ralph taught grades 7-12 in various well disciplined Science and Agriculture classes for Flint (IN), Shipshewana, and Topeka (later Westview) schools for 32 years, retiring in 1993 after residing in Topeka, IN most of his life. A self described “slow learner”, Ralph still managed to father, by age 50, two loving (and often mistaken for grand-) children. Unabashed affinity for chocolate cake and Lucky Strikes didn’t stop Ralph in his later years from shaking off a heart attack, cancer, and brain bleed before finally succumbing to congestive heart failure at the age of 91, on Thursday July 23rd 2020 at 6:10 pm at Goshen Hospital. He was preceded in death by his parents and all siblings. Ralph is survived by his beloved children Sharman (Mark) McNamer of Little Rock, AR, Marc Williams of Indianapolis, IN, grandchildren Ryan and Erin McNamer of Little Rock, as well as several close nieces and nephews. A private family service was held at the family gravesite in Remington, Indiana.