Arthur W. "Sonny" Williams

Washington- Arthur W. “Sonny” Williams, Jr., 67, of Washington died at 4:35 PM on November 18, 2009 at the Harrisburg Medical Center in Harrisburg, IL. He was born on August 27, 1942 in Peoria to Arthur W. and Ruth (Beal) Williams, Sr. He married Sharon Kay Huntington in East Peoria on January 1, 1965. She preceded him in death on July 30, 2001. His survivors are son Arthur W. (Melita) Williams III of Eureka; daughter Kari Lynette (Scott) Palanos of Washington;1 sister Lynda (Aubrey) Johnson of D’Iberville, MS; 6 granddaughters Amy, Emily and Olivia Williams and Madelyn, Samantha and Claire Palanos and 1 granddaughter on the way. He was preceded in death by his parents. Arthur was a 1960 graduate of East Peoria High School. He was a pipefitter for Caterpillar where he worked 34 years until his retirement in 1997 and was a strong and faithful member of UAW Local 974. He was a lifetime member of the VFW Post #2078, the American Legion, and the AmVets. Arthur was an active lifetime member of Verlin M. Showalter Lodge #1172 in Bartonville, was a Grand Lecturer in the State of Illinois, a Cryptic Mason, and a Royal Arch Mason. He was a member of the Red Cross of Constantine, Member of Grand Council of Knight Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Order of the Yellow Dogs, Knight in the Order of Pythias, Sword of Bunker Hill, Past Commander of Knights Templar Peoria Commandry, Mohammed Broilers, and a member of the Scottish Rite Bodies Valley Of Peoria and the York Rite Consistery. He was “Doc” the Clown in Good Standing with the Abbas Grotto, and a member of the Council of Engineers, and the Order of EL HAJJ. He was also a member of the NRA. Arthur was honored to be a 32 Degree Mason and dedicated his life to the Masonic Lodge and the Brotherhood of Masonry. He was an avid fisherman and hunter and loved outdoor activities. He died of natural causes while doing what he loved to do with whom he loved doing it at Deer Camp. Art was a friend to all and stranger to none. Services will be at 10:00 AM Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at Liberty Bible Church in Eureka. The Rev. Thomas Zobrist will officiate. Visitation will be from 4-7 pm on Monday, November 23, 2009 at Deiters Funeral Home and Crematory in Washington, with Masonic Rites at 6:45 pm. Additional visitation will be from 9:30-10am Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at Hillcrest Memory Gardens in rural Morton with military rites performed by the US Army and Tazewell Military Rites Team.

Arthur W. "Sonny" Williams

August 27, 1942 - November 18, 2009