Bruce Michael Williams

Bruce Michael Williams, 70, of Wharton died March 26, 2017 after a lengthy battle from illness brought on by Agent Orange exposure while serving his country in Vietnam. He was born on September 2, 1946 to Russell and Viola Williams in Sugar Land Texas. He attended school in Rosenberg and after two years of college, joined the Air Force in 1967. He was deployed to Vietnam for a year and honorably discharged in 1972. After the Air Force, he returned to the Houston area where he received computer training for several years. He eventually began his own computer consulting business which was successful for the next 30 years. In 1994, he married Glenna Williams and lived in Richmond, Texas where they raised a blended family for the next ten years. In 2004, Mr. Williams was forced to retire due to his service related disability and moved to Wharton with his wife where she was employed. He loved Wharton and served that community for the remainder of his years. Mr. Williams served as “Shanghai Pierce” in Wharton parades for 2005 & 2006. He also served as the Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 72, serving Wharton County. He was an active member of the Rotary Club and served as Rotary President in 2008. He served as Chairman of the Mayor’s Committee for the Aged and Disabled and served as President of ARC (Association of Retarded Citizens) for several years. He served as a volunteer Veteran Service Officer for five years and mentored high school students until 2014 through the Boys and Girls Club of Wharton I.M.P.A.C.T. Program. He worked and assisted tirelessly for years with numerous other community functions filling in whenever needed. He is survived by his wife, Glenna Williams, of 22 years; a sister, Veta Buzek and her husband, Mike of Rosenberg; two daughters, Natalie Williams of Navasota and Becky Massaro and her husband, Mark of Edwards, California; one son, Russell Williams and his wife, Kate; four step children, Virginia Morales of Houston, Amber Brache and her husband, Mike of Omaha, Nebraska, Heather Blanchard and her husband, Cody of Humble, and Christopher Graham and his wife, Jenna of Spring; thirteen grandchildren, Soneen, Savannah, John, Joey, Jenna, Jacob, Emma, Kieyana, Bella, Jay, Sawyer, Wesley and Wyatt. He was preceded in death by his father, Russell Williams, his mother Viola Williams, a brother, Kenneth Lee Williams and one grandchild, Guy Dacon Blanchard. The family would like to thank the staff of Avalon Place Nursing Home and Houston Hospice El Campo for their kind and professional care of Mr. Williams during his last months as well as the constant parade of friends that visited him regularly at Avalon Place. Memorial services will be held at First Baptist Church in Wharton at 2 pm on Friday, March 31st, with Pastor Tony Wishert officiating. Military Honors will be held under the auspices of American Legion Post 87. The family request donations in lieu of flowers to be sent to Dr. Paul Schulz Dementia Research Fund, C/O Brittnee Henry, Director of Development, The McGovern Medical School at UT Health, 7000 Fannin Street, Ste 1200, Houston, Tx 77030. Funeral Services are under the direction of Wharton Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at whartonfuneralhome.com