Yvonne G. Williams
– April 12, 2019
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<p>Yvonne G. Williams, 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. They married and Bill went into the U.S. Navy during the war; Yvonne started a small retail store while he was gone. Yvonne was the classic Rosie, the Riveter. When Bill returned, the store became a Ben Franklin Store. After some years they expanded into a small department store called Williams Department Store and bought two adjacent buildings, which they operated. Yvonne was the buyer for the store and flew back and forth to New York often to keep up with the latest fashions, until one day, in 1962, they looked across the street and saw the very first Kmart being built in Garden City, Michigan, where they lived. They decided right then and there that they could not compete with this discount type of store and decided to take an early retirement and sell their business. <br> They retired to a nearby historic farm where they grew organic produce and fruit trees. 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!<br> They moved to Sun City Center in the mid 80s; Yvonne was doing yoga and aerobics way into her 90s, and Bill loved his SCC Rotary Club friends. Bill Williams passed in 1997.<br> Yvonne and Bill were a wonderful aunt and uncle to both her two blood nephews, as well as to 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.<br> 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 missing a meeting of Rotary International and served as president of his club. Yvonne had taken care of her ailing family and friends over the last 50 years; she will be sorely missed.<br> Yvonne is survived by her nephew, Clifton Hone, of Sun City Center, Fla.; Pat Cronenberg, The Villages, Fla.; Randy, Craig and Tim Underhill of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Newport, Ky.; Nancy Martin of Cave Creek, Ariz., and her wonderful care givers, Bobby and Renee Stroud. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.</p>
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<p>Yvonne G. Williams, 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. They married and Bill went into the U.S. Navy during the war; Yvonne started a small retail store while he was gone. Yvonne was the classic Rosie, the Riveter. When Bill returned, the store became a Ben Franklin Store. After some years they expanded into a small department store called Williams Department Store and bought two adjacent buildings, which they operated. Yvonne was the buyer for the store and flew back and forth to New York often to keep up with the latest fashions, until one day, in 1962, they looked across the street and saw the very first Kmart being built in Garden City, Michigan, where they lived. They decided right then and there that they could not compete with this discount type of store and decided to take an early retirement and sell their business. <br> They retired to a nearby historic farm where they grew organic produce and fruit trees. 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!<br> They moved to Sun City Center in the mid 80s; Yvonne was doing yoga and aerobics way into her 90s, and Bill loved his SCC Rotary Club friends. Bill Williams passed in 1997.<br> Yvonne and Bill were a wonderful aunt and uncle to both her two blood nephews, as well as to 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.<br> 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 missing a meeting of Rotary International and served as president of his club. Yvonne had taken care of her ailing family and friends over the last 50 years; she will be sorely missed.<br> Yvonne is survived by her nephew, Clifton Hone, of Sun City Center, Fla.; Pat Cronenberg, The Villages, Fla.; Randy, Craig and Tim Underhill of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Newport, Ky.; Nancy Martin of Cave Creek, Ariz., and her wonderful care givers, Bobby and Renee Stroud. Arrangements by Sun City Center Funeral Home, 813-634-9900.</p>
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