Milam Joe Williams

Preceding Joe in death was Nadine Jerry Williams, the love of his life and wife of sixty-eight years. Also preceding Joe were his parents, Charles Wilce Williams and Gordie Pipes Williams; his brother, Johnny Ted Williams; and his sister, Patsy Sue Bath.

Joe is survived by his nephew, Todd Williams of Waco, Texas; Nadine’s nephews, Rick Jerry and Randy Jerry of El Dorado, Arkansas; and Nadine’s nieces, Janice Corley of Norphlet, Arkansas; Jamie LeBlanc of Youngsville, Louisiana; and Pamela Myers of Nash, Texas.

After high school graduation, Joe served in the United States Air Force. After his honorable discharge in 1954, he worked for Arkansas Power & Light until he began working in March, 1955, for Monsanto in the Chemical Plant as a lab technician. He transferred to St. Louis in August, 1961, and stayed one year at which time the Company granted him a leave of absence to attend college.

Joe graduated from the University of Arkansas in January, 1966, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and began his employment at Monsanto Lion Oil Refinery in El Dorado, Arkansas. During his time with Lion Oil, he held the positions of process engineer, manager of economics and planning, plant manager, and vice president of refinery and pipeline. Upon his retirement in 1998, Joe continued to serve on the Company’s Board of Directors.

When asked at his retirement about memorable events in his Lion Oil career, Joe listed the #103 Tank fire, being made plant manager in 1993, negotiating union contracts, and getting the first Refinery linear program computer model working in 1975. Among the people he considered significant to his career were the management which encouraged him early in his career to go back to school and get his chemical engineering degree; his pastor, Sam G. Shepperson; Leroy Jackson who provided encouragement to him as a young economics and planning engineer; and Lee Lampton for his “faith in me.”

In 2012, at a ceremony at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Joe was inducted into the Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers which is a nonprofit organization recognizing outstanding chemical engineers.

As prestigious as his career, Joe would not consider his career his major accomplishment. His marriage with Nadine provided him joy beyond words. Nadine loved and supported Joe without reservation. Her encouragement is the reason he attended the University, and she worked a full time job to allow him time for his studies. Nadine typed his papers and corrected his spelling. She never sought the spotlight but was always there for Joe during his career, doing whatever he needed her to do whether it be a sounding board, an encourager, a motivator, or a cheerleader. She also kept a scrapbook of Joe’s life which provided information for this obituary.

Joe’s other major accomplishment and joy were his service in various roles with Marrable Hill Chapel and Victory Bible Camp. He reached teenagers for Christ with his role as member and chairman of the Youth Committee and reached children for Christ with his 34 years of working with AWANA (a children’s ministry). He also reached many for Christ with his work on the Board of Victory Bible Camp at Carthage, Arkansas, where his timeless efforts and work provided continuity to keep the Camp open. Joe would quickly tell you his service for Marrable Hill Chapel and Victory Bible Camp were far more important than being Vice President of Lion Oil Company.

A funeral service celebrating Joe’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, May 31, 2024, at Marrable Hill Chapel with Reverend Blake Dailey officiating and visitation immediately following. Burial is under the direction of Young’s Funeral Directors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Marrable Hill Chapel or Victory Bible Camp.

Condolences can be expressed online at www.youngsfuneralhome.com