Joseph W. “Joe” Williams passed away at the age of 71 early Thursday morning, December 22, 2016 and now joins his wife, Barbara, and other loved ones in Heaven. A longtime resident of Murphy Hill Road in Industry, he died at Allegheny General Hospital following a brief illness.

He was born in Rochester, PA on March 10, 1945, a son of the late Joseph W. Williams, Sr. and Dora Smith Williams.

A 1965 graduate of Midland High School, Joe was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in France during the Vietnam War. He returned home to work at Crucible Steel Corporation and later Arco Chemical before starting a 28-year career with BASF in Monaca.

He was a family man first and foremost, and was a true sportsman at heart. Joe loved following high school football and was a huge “Cleveland anything” fan. He enjoyed fishing on Lake Erie with family, and especially loved small game hunting with his hound dogs, which he raised and sold for many years. A patient man with a giving spirit, he was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Midland.

In 1982, he married the love of his life, the former Barbara Thomas of East Liverpool. They loved being involved in all the activities of their children and grandchildren until her death on January 1, 2015.

Joe is survived by his family, daughter Whitney Wright and her husband, William, and their daughter, London Autumn Wright of Bellevue, PA; son, Zac Williams and Tamela Stewart, and their daughter, Reagan Williams, of Midland; son Michael Fleming and his family of Bulgaria; and daughter Keia Fountain and her family of Dallas, TX, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Also surviving is a brother, Kenny Williams and his wife, Vicki, of Midland, as well as a sister, Judy Williams of Industry. Joe was also preceded in death by two sisters, Lavada Fountain and Lavern Fountain, and by two brothers, Grady Williams, Sr. and Robert Williams.

Joe’s nephew, Rev. Cordell Fountain of the First Baptist Church will officiate at a funeral service to be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Dawson Funeral Home.

Friends may visit with the family from 4 p.m. until the time of the service on Tuesday at the funeral home.

Joe will be laid to rest beside his wife at Columbiana County Memorial Park.

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