Obituary of Yvonne Williams

Williams, Yvonne G., 103, passed away on April 12, 2019. Yvonne went to high school with Bill Williams in Detroit and they played in the high school band together and then later married and he went into the Navy during the war and she started a small retail store while he was gone. Yvonne was the classic Rosie The Riveter! When he returned it became a Ben Franklin Store and then after some years they expanded into a small department store called Williams Department Store and bought the buildings next to them to expand which they operated. Yvonne was the Buyer and flew back and forth to New York often to keep up with the latest fashions until one day they looked across the street in 1962 and saw the very first Kmart being built back in Garden City Michigan where they lived and decided right then and there that they could not compete with this discounted type of store and decided to take an early retirement and sell their business. 

They retired to a nearby historic farm where they grew organic produce and fruit trees and Yvonne loved this farm and worked really hard in the gardens and Bill played with his farm "toys". They also had a private plane that Bill flew with much trepidation from Yvonne!

They moved to Sun City Center in the mid 80’s and Yvonne was doing yoga and aerobics way into her 90s and Bill loved his SCC Rotary Club friends. Bill Williams Passed in 1997.

Yvonne and Bill were wonderful Aunt and Uncle to both her two blood nephews as well as Bill’s Nieces and Nephews and dressed them up like little fashion models. All of them appreciated their kindness and generosity more than they will ever know!

Yvonne and Bill were very kind and charitable people who took care of their employees as well as friends. Bill had 50 years of never nissing a meeting of Rotary Intl.and served as a President of his club and Yvonne has taken care of her ailing family and friends over the last 50 years and Yvonne will be sorely missed!

Yvonne was survived by her nephew Clifton Hone of Sun City Center and Pat Cronenberg, The Villages, FL., Randy, Craig and Tim Underhill of Cincinnati, OH and Newport KY. and Nancy Martin of Cave Creek. AZ. and her wonderful care givers Bobby and Renee Stroud.