Beth Williams 1924-2023

Beth Eileen (Housh) Williams, 98, of Hoyt, passed away at McCrite Plaza in Topeka on Sunday, June 18, 2023.

She was born Dec. 8, 1924, to Roy Valentine Housh and Lucy Mabeth Edmonds at Winchester. She was preceded in death by her brother, Russell LeRoy Housh; her husband Orion Williams Jr.; her second son, Bernard Williams; and a grandson, Daniel Williams.

Beth graduated from Hoyt High School in 1943. She married Orion “Bud” Williams Jr. on Sept. 12, 1944, on the Army Air Force Base at Sioux City, Iowa. She attended Washburn University and was later employed in the business unit of Washburn for more than 30 years. She lived most of her life in the Topeka and Hoyt area, apart from seven years spent in Big Bear Lake, Calif.

She was always active supporting church and community. She and Bud were long-time members of Shooting Stars Square Dance Club. She was a charter member of the Town and Country Home Demonstration Unit in Hoyt and a longtime member of the Hoyt Study Club. After retirement she was employed part-time at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt for four years.

She is survived by her three remaining sons and their spouses, William (Mary), Bradley (Deborah) and Bruce (Taunya); 10 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, her sister-in-law Marie Barton and Marie and Russell’s two sons, Roy and Tony Housh.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, June 26 at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Mayetta. Burial will follow in Hoyt Cemetery. Beth will lie in state after 1 p.m. on Sunday at Chapel Oaks Funeral Home in Hoyt, where a Rosary will be prayed at 4 p.m., followed by visitation until 6 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church or KTWU Public Television, Washburn University Foundation, and may be sent in care of Chapel Oaks Funeral Home, P.O. Box 280, Hoyt, KS 66440. Online condolences may be made at chapeloaksfuneralhome.com

(PAID OBITUARY)