Burgess Earl Williams

Burgess Earl Williams was born on June 16, 1931 in Greenwood, West Virginia the son of Ernest E. and Pauline (Batton) Williams. He married Lucy Jane Barker on May 1, 1954 in Winchester, VA.

Survivors include his wife, Lucy Jane Williams of Danville, IL, three children, Bruce Earl Williams (Dorothee Heine-Williams) of Kronberg, Germany, Linda Williams Snyder (Mike) of Avon, IN, and Alan Lewis Williams of Indianapolis, IN, six grandchildren; Patrick Snyder (Kim), Jennifer Snyder, Bernhard Williams, Elisabeth Aoyagi-Williams (Tomoki Aoyagi-Williams), Johanna Williams and Clara Williams, two great grandchildren; Charles Snyder and Jacob Snyder as well as one sister; Marillyn Harbert (Robert) of Lumberport, WV.

Burgess grew up in the small town of Lumberport, WV and attended all 12 years of his initial schooling in the Lumberport School System. He graduated from Lumberport High School in 1949 where he earned letters in football, was Salutatorian of his graduation class and attended Shinnston Vocational Welding School for extra credits. Burgess had fond memories of growing up in this small coal mining community and keeps in touch with some of his high school friends. One of Burgess’ first projects in retirement was to locate all of his high school graduating classmates and organized a reunion.

Burgess served in the United States Navy from 1949 until 1953. He enlisted in June of 1949 and received his “Boot Camp” training at Great Lakes, IL. He graduated from Interior Electrician’s Mate School at Great Lakes in February of 1950 and was assigned to the destroyer U.S.S. Charles H Roan based in Newport, RI. He made several cruises to the Caribbean while on the destroyer. He took the fleet competitive exam for the Naval Academy Prep School in Newport, RI while stationed on the Roan. He graduated from the Naval Academy Prep School after passing the test to the U.S. Naval Academy under the fleet quota. Burgess attended the Naval Academy from 1951 until 1953. He served on the battleship U.S.S. Wisconsin during his summer training cruise at the Academy. He resigned voluntarily in 1953 because he did not want to make the service his career.

Burgess transferred his college credits to West Virginia University in Morgantown, WV and graduated from the university in 1955 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He was elected to the honorary fraternities Etta Kappa Nu (Electrical) and Tau Beta Pi (engineering) while at the university.

Burgess was employed by General Electric Co from June of 1955 until March of 1975. He began his career in engineering in Pittsfield, MA in June of 1955 in the Engineering Training Program. His next assignment was in Ft Wayne, IN, first as an engineer in the Specialty Motor Department then as an engineer in the Advanced Engineering Department. He chose to take a permanent position in Advanced Engineering and was employed in Ft Wayne until 1959. He was transferred to the Light Military Department in Johnson City, NY in 1959. While employed at Johnson City he fulfilled one of his lifetime goals – to learn to fly light aircraft. He obtained his private pilot’s license (certification) in 1961. He was transferred to the Apollo Space Program in Daytona Beach, FL in 1963. While employed in Daytona Beach he obtained his Master of Engineering Degree from the University of Florida under the ‘Genesis’ program and served as Outdoor Committee Leader for the local Ormond Beach Boy Scout troop. Burgess transferred to the Ballast Department in Danville, IL in 1969.

Burgess was employed by the Olin Corporation which later became Flexel of Covington, IN, from March 1975 until his retirement in 1994. Most of his career at Olin/Flexel was as a project engineer. Burgess enjoyed working on his many projects at Olin/Flexel.

Burgess tried to keep busy in retirement. He continued to volunteer to tutor high school dropouts to read and solve math problems in order to get their high school GED through the Readers Route Program at Danville Area Community College. He also taught courses at DACC in the Adult Education Program. He and his wife traveled to many parts of the United States with tour groups. He is past President of the local AARP Chapter. He wrote and self-published four books early in his retirement. He was on of the founders of the local Kickapoo Karvers club in Danville and was a lifelong hunter and fisherman as well as enjoying his early hobbies of woodworking, woodcarving, photography, oil painting and pencil sketching.

Burgess is a long-time member of the First Baptist Church in Danville, IL having served as the President of the Amadeus Sunday School Class and as a ‘greeter’. He thanked the LORD every day for his many blessings. His favorite Bible verse is the 23rd Psalm and his favorite hymns are ‘Amazing Grace” and ‘Where We’ll Never Grow Old’.

Burgess and his wife, Lucy, lived on a small farm near Danville, IL for many years.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday, November 7, 2025, at Sunset Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 3940 N Vermilion St. Danville, Illinois 61834. Pastor Paul Rebert will officiate. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00 PM on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at the funeral home.

Memorials may be made in Burgess’ memory to the First Baptist Church.

Please join Burgess’ family in sharing memories, photos, and videos of his life through his tribute wall at www.sunsetfuneralhome.com.