Wendell Williams

Wendell G. Williams, 76, of Idaho Falls, passed away January 31, 2017, at Lincoln Court Retirement Community. Wendell was born October 14, 1940, at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota, to George and Rosamond Williams. He had 5 sisters, Sharon, Sandra, Mary Ellen, Elizabeth (Liz), and Cathy. He grew up and attended schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation, and in Salmon and Lewiston, Idaho. He served in the United States Navy as Boatswain’s mate on the USS Hornet. He went to Pearl Harbor and Japan. Wendell never married and did not have any children but loved kids. He was especially fond of the Holy Rosary Catholic School children. Wendell worked at the GPOD facility in Idaho Falls for thirty-five years as a potato bagger and retired in 2005. He was fiercely independent and in 1982 secured his own place at the George Apartments. He lived there until just before his death. Wendell was a sports enthusiast and an avid bowler. He walked everywhere. He was well known at the North Hi-Way Cafe, O’Brady’s Family Restaurant, the Idaho Falls Public Library, Great Harvest Bread, Bowlero, and the Elks Lodge bowling alley before it closed. Wendell was a faithful Catholic. He walked to Mass every Sunday at Holy Rosary Church and also attended daily Mass, especially when the school children were present. He was loved and cared for by many in the St. John Paul II Catholic Community. Wendell is survived by his sisters Elizabeth of Pocatello, ID; Mary Ellen of San Diego, CA; and Sandra of Las Vegas, NV. He was preceded in death by his mother Rosamond, father William, and sister Cathy. Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, February 8, 2017, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 9th and Lee Streets, with Father Raul Covarrubias officiating. A Rosary will be held Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. at Wood Funeral Home, 273 North Ridge Avenue, with Deacon Wence Rodriguez officiating. A visitation will follow until 8:00 p.m. Burial will be in Fielding Memorial Park with military rites performed by the Bonneville County Veterans Memorial Team and the Navy Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Holy Rosary Catholic School, 161 9th Street, Idaho Falls, ID, 83404 or Red Cloud Indian School, 100 Mission Road, Pine Ridge, SD, 57770.

Funeral Mass