Richard A. McWilliams, 24 Aug 1935 - 26 Jan 2004

MCWILLIAMS FLOERCHINGER KITZMAN ORFANOS DEVORE ANKSORUS RITCHIE

Posted By: Deb Bennett-Jónsson (email)
Date: 11/8/2010 at 14:43:03

Newspaper: MR
Posted: 04 Feb 2004

Richard A. McWilliams, 68

Richard Alva McWilliams, 68, of Deep River, died Monday, Jan 26, 2004 at Grinnell Regional Medical Center, Grinnell.

His funeral service was held on Thursday, Jan 29, at the Harden Funeral Chapel, What Cheer, with Pastor Michael Blankenship of the First Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa officiating. Interment followed the Golden Rod Cemetery in Deep River.

Richard Alva McWilliams was born on Aug. 24, 1935, in Thornburg, the son of Alva Lawrence and Inez Evelyn Floerchinger McWilliams. He was raised in rural Deep River and graduated from the Deep River high school in 1954 where he was Class President. After graduating he shared farming operations with his parents for several years. On June 16, 1957, he was united in marriage with Sandra “Stephens” Kitzman in Indianapolis, Iowa, at the Christian Church. They spent 46 happy years together. In 1964, Alva and Inez retired and Richard and Sandra moved to the family farm where they spent their lives together, farming in the rural Gibson-Deep River area. Richard also spent many years selling seed corn for Jacques and Mycogen. He retired in 2003. He was a very active member of the First Church of the Nazarene in Oskaloosa and the English River Ruritans. Richard’s enjoyments included collecting toy Allis-Chalmers tractors, restoring antique Allis-Chalmers tractors, driving antique Allis-Chalmers tractors in parades, taking care of his cat, keeping his red truck clean and spending time with his children and grandchildren.

Richard’s memory is honored by his wife, Sandra McWilliams, of Deep River; four children, Doug McWilliams and his wife, Terri, of Hampton; Diane Orfanos of What Cheer; Denise DeVore and her husband, Donald of Carlisle, and Darin McWilliams of Des Moines; a sister, Colleen Anksorus and her husband, Bill, of Marshalltown, and nine grandchildren: Joel and Kyle McWilliams, Alexis, Angelo and Maria Orfanos and Josh, Stacey, Danielle and Desaree DeVore.

Richard’s parents and a sister, Erma Ritchie, preceded him in death.

A memorial has been established in his name.