William Bradley Williams The world is a sadder place through the passing of William Bradley Williams better known in his many years as Bradley, Willie, and Pop. Our dad was a man of God who showed it in the way he lived his 89 years. Dad was not much of a church going man in his later years, but accepted our Lord as his savior in his earlier years at Willis Chapel Methodist Church in Huntly, VA. He worshipped his God through the beauty of nature and doing things for his neighbors and friends. Many looked upon Dad as a grandfather figure. His passion for working with the Chester Gap Vol. Fire Dept. for many years has remained as an inspiration to the many young men and women who are still trying to keep this Fire Dept. alive. Then came the little country store that he ran after his retirement at Avtex in 1978. After Dad left the store to help mom with her father who was very ill, Dad got the flea market fever. He loved loading up his truck and taking his plows (that he redid so they would look nice in someone's yard) and headed to the flea market on most weekends. He talked much about the people he met at the flea market each weekend. In recent years, his son Brad, and wife Mary took over the little country store and Dad's passion was to be there on the weekend and greet the people. Dad did not believe in using the modern cash register that told him how much change to return to a customer, he did it the old fashion way and counted it back himself. He passed away Monday, May 2, 2005 in the UVA Hospital in Charlottesville after emergency colon surgery that caused him to go into heart failure. Just last week he was mowing grass and taking care of his favorite children, which are his and Mom's cats, Tinker, Shorty, Lucky, and Inky. Dad was born in 1916, in Chester Gap, VA, the son of the late Noah Samuel and Sarah Sheldton Williams. He was preceded in death by two brothers and one sister: Andrew Williams, Bossie Williams, Bertha Williams and half sister Mary Helen Williams. He is survived by a half brother Arnold D. Williams and stepmother Annie Walters. He leaves his wife of 66 ½ years LaMerle Bolt Williams (who was born in Georgia) three sons, Murray Bradley Williams and wife Mary of Strasburg Rd., VA, Robert Lee Williams and wife Ellen of Front Royal, VA, Jerry Martin Williams and wife Nancy of Chester Gap, VA, and a daughter Carolyn Leake and husband Thomas of Chester Gap, VA. Grandchildren are Patty Williams, Jimmy and Peggy Williams, Terri and Terry Brooks, Tony and Donna Leake, Jeff Leake, Stephanie and Bryan Crawford, Thomas and Cindy Williams, and Donna Williams. Fifteen great-grandchildren, Amanda, Ashley and Alicia Crawford, Rebecca and Katherine Williams, Lee and Renee Settle, Angel and Brian Williams, Cynthia, Bobby, Cheyanne and Heather Williams, Anthony, Jonathan, Michael, and Ethan Leake. Great great grandchildren include Jason, Gavin and Chase Williams, and Katerina and Elijah Settle, and also many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Serving as pallbearers will be the grandsons, and Chris Williams. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Chester Gap Fire Dept, Special friends and the Deacons of Chester Gap Baptist Church, who have given so much support to our family in this time of heartache. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, May 5, 2005 at Turner-Robertshaw Chapel at 2:00pm with Rev. Malcolm Cadd officiating. Burial will follow in the Williams Family Cemetery. A reception will be held following the burial at the Chester Gap Baptist Church Fellowship Hall. The family will receive friends and family on Wednesday, May 4, 2005 at Turner-Robertshaw Chapel from 7:00pm-9:00pm. Memorial contributions may be made to: Williams Family Cemetery C/O Joe Williams, PO BOX 1575, Front Royal, VA 22630. On Thursday night before going into the hospital a customer at the store asked Dad if he was worried about the upcoming surgery and his reply was "No, what can they do to me, I've had 89 good years