Obituaries

Van Dorn Williamson

Photo of Van Dorn Williamson
Van Dorn Williamson, age 96, of California, Mo., passed away on Sunday, July 26, 2020, at California Care Center. Van was born on January 10, 1924, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Elmer and Bertha Woods Williamson. Van graduated from Manual High School in Kansas City, Mo., in 1942. In early 1943, he was drafted into the US Army, and served with the 220th Armored Engineer Battalion, 20th Armored Division, in the European Theater of Operations. He was discharged in Feb., 1946, as a grade T-5. On September 5, 1945, in Kansas City, Missouri, Van was married to Betty McDonald who survives of the home. Following his time in the Military, Van operated his own forklift business, before being hired by the Towmotor Corporation, which became Caterpillar Inc. He retired in 1979, and moved to the California, Mo. area. Van enjoyed fishing, country music, traveling to Branson, and yard work. He was a lifetime member of the California VFW Post 4345. Van is also survived by two daughters, Nancy McCoy of Greenwood, Mo., and Becky (Vince) McClure of California. Mo.; seven grandchildren; 10 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. He was also preceded in death by his daughter Judith Williamson; a grandson, Sean McCoy; 10 brothers, and one sister. Visitation was held Friday, August 7, 2020, with services following at 10:30 a.m. at Windmill Ridge Funeral Service with Jeremy Amick officiating. Burial followed at Hawthorn Memorial Gardens in Jefferson City, Missouri. Memorials are suggested to Silver Star Families of America. Online messages to the family may be contributed at www.windmillridgefuneralservice.com.

Published August 12, 2020