MARION — Malcolm Williams, 97, Syracuse, passed away after a short illness on Jan. 29, 2017, at Peabody Retirement Community, North Manchester. He was born in Howard County on Aug. 7, 1919, to Clyde and Zelpha Williams. When he was 5, his mother died, leaving him and his three siblings. His father married Cecile and the family moved to Swayzee, where Malcolm’s father farmed. Clyde and Cecile had five children, combining with the four children from Clyde’s first marriage as well as three children from Cecile’s first marriage. Malcolm graduated from Swayzee High School in 1937. He enlisted in the Navy as an aviation cadet in June 1942. During one particularly severe anti-aircraft barrage, one member of the crew was wounded and the Catalina PBY was forced down into open sea off shore from a Japanese-held base. The crew spent three days in life rafts paddling to avoid capture. He later became a lieutenant (JG) and received his pilot’s license. He left the service in 1946 and returned to Swayzee to farm with his father. He married his sweetheart, Shirley, in 1952. He farmed his whole business life in Swayzee and became one of the larger grain and livestock farmers in central Indiana. He continued his farm operation until retiring in 1986. Frequent visitors of Lake Wawasee since the 1940s, Malcolm and Shirley purchased a lake home there in 1980 and retired to it in 1986. He spent many mornings working out at Lakeside Fitness, Syracuse, and playing golf at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club. He was preceded by his daughter, Leslie Williams; brothers: Tence Williams, Les Boswell and Willis Boswell; and his sisters: Ruth Anna Williams, Faye Williams, Mary Frances Powell, Joan Shellen and Naomi Porter. He is survived by his wife, Shirley; a son, Doug (spouse Eileen); granddaughters, Ellie (spouse Will) James and Megan Williams; great-grandson, Malcolm James; and his sisters: Juanita Comer, Susie Gavin and Madonna Scott. He will be buried in Marion in a private service. Friends and family are invited to a celebration of life at 1 p.m. Saturday at Tippecanoe Lake Country Club, Leesburg. Arrangements were entrusted to Raven-Choate Funeral Home, Marion. ***** Memorials to the National Kidney Foundation, www.kidney.org. Condolences may be made at www.ravenchoate.com.
