Arthur F. "Sonny" Williams Sr.

10/28/2007

Arthur F. "Sonny" Williams Sr., 73, of Hancock Road died Sunday at Berkshire Medical Center. He served as a Hancock selectman for more than five years, as town constable for many years and as the 911 coordinator. Born in Hancock on Feb. 19, 1934, son of Wilson and Alice Smith Williams, he was a 1951 graduate of the former Williamstown High School. Mr. Williams worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture in the Farm Services Agency for 23 years, retiring in 2005 as county executive director. He also worked on his father's dairy farm until selling the cows in 1986. The two men also ran Wilson Williams Co., selling, installing and repairing farming machinery and milking equipment. From 1972 to 1982, he was a member of the County Committee for the Berkshire County Farm Group. A founding member of the Hancock Volunteer Fire Department, he served for 55 years, as chief from 1970 to 1976 and from 1988 to 1993. He also served as secretary for a number of years. Mr. Williams also helped establish Hancock Volunteer Fire Department No. 2 and was a 50-year member of the Berkshire County Forest Wardens' Association. He and his wife, the former Elsie A. Christiansen, were married at Second Congregational Church of Williamstown on April 27, 1957. Besides his wife, he leaves two sons, Roger F. Williams and Arthur F. Williams Jr., both of Hancock; two daughters, Stacey L. Breads of New Lebanon, N.Y., and Melanie J. Jackson of Hancock; a sister, Eleanor Ostrander of Eustus, Fla.; eight grandchildren; and a great-granddaughter. FUNERAL NOTICE -- Services for Arthur F. "Sonny" Williams Sr., who died Sunday, Oct. 28, 2007, will be conducted Thursday at 11 a.m. at Second Congregational Church of Williamstown, 81 Hancock Road, by the Rev. Penny Rich Smith. Interment with full fire departmental honors will follow in Southlawn Cemetery in Williamstown. Relatives and friends are invited to HALL & HIGGINS FUNERAL HOME, 457 NY 43, Stephentown, N.Y., on Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. for visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions in memory of Sonny be made to Hancock Volunteer Fire Department or to the Village Ambulance, both in care of the funeral home, P.O. Box 9, Stephentown, NY 12168. Mr. Williams also leaves two daughters-in-law, Barbara (Roger), Julie (Arthur); and two sons-in-law, Daniel Breads and Randal Jackson. He was predeceased by siblings Mabel James, and Gladys and Harold Williams.

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