Donald Moses “Donnie” Williams, 71, of Elkton, Virginia, went home to be with his Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, July 14, 2024, surrounded by his family. He was born April 20, 1953, in Harrisonburg and was the son of the late Moses Lewis and Mildred Cordelia Williams.

Donnie graduated from Elkton High School with the class of 1971. Many of his former classmates and friends remember him for his kindness and receiving the golden helmet award for his talents playing football. Prior to beginning his career at Merck in 1980, he was employed at James Madison University as a painter. While at Merck, he was employed as a chemical operator and utilities operator, as well as holding the office of Union President for Local 94, where he was a staunch advocate for workers’ rights. Additionally, in 1989 he was appointed by the governor of Virginia to Virginia’s Job Training Coordinating Council. He was also the recipient of the Thomas E. Boyle Award for distinguished leadership.

He took leave from Merck to work for the International Chemical Workers’ Union and returned to Merck to eventually retire in 2015.

Donnie was an accomplished carpenter and fabricator, and as such there wasn’t much that he could not build or fix. But for all his talents, he would most want to be remembered as a family man. Donnie loved his family and few things brought him as much joy as family gatherings. He was a loving husband and father, and his love only expanded as he took on the role of grandfather and became known as, “Papa.”

Surviving is his wife of 36 years, Anne Marie Williams. Also surviving are four children, Jennifer L. Mason and husband, Michael of Edinburg, Donald Lee Williams and wife, Alexis of Waterford, Lee Anne Simmons and husband, Corey of Elkton, and Marykate Williams; five grandchildren, Isabelle Anne Simmons, Fiona Noel Simmons, Donald Grayson Williams, Jacob Alexander Williams, and Benjamin Moses Williams.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his late wife, Linda Marie Williams.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Friday, July 19, 2024, at Kyger Funeral Home in Elkton with the Rev. Barbara Hensley officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment will follow at Elk Run Cemetery.