John Allen Williams

John A. Williams, 82, died February 16, 2021 at home in Indianapolis.  He was born in Jackson, Mich., to the late Donald and Margaret Williams.    He attended Jackson H.S. and played both baseball and basketball.   In 1958 he signed a minor-league baseball contract with the Philadelphia Phillies and pitched one season in Brunswick, Ga., and Johnson City, Tenn.    After completing basic flight training in the U.S. Air Force, he enrolled at Western Michigan University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration.

After graduation, John moved to Alpena, Mich., where he met his wife, Judie, who survives.   They were married 56 years and this happy union produced three children, John (Sarah) Williams Jr., Jim (Julie) Williams and Jennifer (Pete) Chimbidis and five grandchildren, Ryan and Emma Williams and Louie, Jamey and Nikos Chimbidis.    He was a member of Pilgrim Lutheran Church and retired from Dresser-Roots in 2000 after a long career in labor relations.   John enjoyed keeping up with the activities of the grandchildren; golfing; watching basketball, especially Butler, IU and the Pacers; working in the yard and doting over their 200-year-old oak tree; feeding the birds; reading American history books; spoiling their cat, Holly; and whistling and singing while cooking breakfast and grilling outside.    His family misses him greatly.

In addition to his wife, children, their spouses and grandchildren, John is survived by his sisters-in-law, Cheryl Rosbeck and Debbie (Gene) Northrup; and nieces and nephews, Tammi (Matt) Richardson, Jeff (Shari) Rosbeck, Stacy (Josh) Paulsen and Brian Northrup.

There will be a private memorial service.   In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to Pilgrim Lutheran Church, Attn: Pilgrim Legacy Fund, 3650 W. 106^th St., Carmel, Ind. 46032 or the Ernie Els for Autism Foundation at www.elsforautism.org.

We thank the EMT personnel and IMPD officers who attended to John.

Flanner Buchanan – Broad Ripple is handling the arrangements.