Ariel Mellom Williams

Ariel Mellom Williams lived a full 94 years, September 10, 1921 in Marshall Township, Wisconsin through the evening of June 21, 2016 when she died peacefully in her home in Mobile, AL. Her grandson and caregiver, Lee Williams and her son, Jim were with her. Ariel was a high school graduate, intelligent and self-educated through travel and innate wisdom, well beyond many with college degrees. She was a beautiful woman, embracing the roles of daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend with compassion and grace.

Ariel was predeceased in August 2015 Beloved Husband Walter P. Williams; and earlier by her parents Mary Etta and James W Mellom, her sisters and brother Alta Thompson, Lorraine McKitrick and Lee Mellom; and her eldest son Walter P. Williams Jr.

She is survived by her daughter Ariel Harris, son James (Susan), grandchildren, Lee (Tim) and Alan (Marci) Williams and Rene’(Jason) Williams Smith, Angie Shore, Joshua Reynier, Ted Johnson, and Margaret Williams, and great grandchildren Nicole Marie Shore, Anna Laura Williams, Miranda Cook, Mya and Max Smith, Mallory and Gabriel Reynier; two nephews, SWH Williams III and Tom Richardson; and one niece, Mary Mellom.

Ariel grew up in Richland County, Wisconsin, in dairy and cheese making country. Both of her parents were licensed cheesemakers, winning state honors for their work. Her Father, Jack, was a successful, hard working Norwegian immigrant. Her mother was a strong, staunch North Dakota woman who worked alongside her husband and raised their four children during the Great Depression, grounding them in the ethics of good manners, hard work and the Church of Christ faith.

Ariel reminisced with family of her early life: memories of the simple family life with no indoor plumbing in the hard Wisconsin winters; of the fact that she ice-skated to school for roughly four months of the year on a frozen stream that ran behind the family home, directly in front of the small school she and her siblings attended. She was a great athlete and musician during those years, playing the piano beautifully, by ear and singing in the school chorus.

She and her siblings shared a unique bond and a quirky sense of humor growing up together as a very strong, supportive group. The model for this closeness and sibling friendship has been passed along to her surviving children and grandchildren. We all realize the importance of a loving family structure and strong sibling bond through by the life she modeled and taught us.

In January, 1942 Ariel met and married a dashing young WW II soldier, Walter Pippen Williams (Rip), who was one of the first pilots in the newly formed US Army Air Corps, later the Air Force. They married before he went to war and celebrated his safe return. As wife of an Air Force officer, she quickly acquired the needed social skills to help advance his career, serving as hostess for many required social events for the squadrons, units and other groups under his command. Rip and Ariel had three children, Ariel, Walter, Jr. and James Spottswood, who grew up “military brats”, traveling with them to over 13 states and to Okinawa, Japan during Rip’s military career. Rip often remarked, in his later life the support, stable family life and social skills of his wife were a major factor in his success in the Air Force. He retired in 1963 at the end of a tour of duty as Deputy Base Commander at Brookley AFB, with the rank of Lt. Colonel. Ariel and Rip chose to stay in Mobile to create the next phase of their lives.

Ariel had profound influences on many beyond her immediate family. Her nephews Skip Williams and Tom Richardson, were, emotionally, her other sons. Her niece Mary Mellom was like a second daughter. She warmly embraced and supported daughters-in-law, step-grandchildren and neighborhood youth as if they were her own. They and many others, too numerous to name, credit her with providing a moral compass, loving compassion for their fellow man; deep affection and respect for animals – and a place of refuge and wisdom in times of trouble and fear.

Ariel was also a source of strength, guidance and comfort for all of her grandchildren. They all loved her deeply whether they were physically able to be with her or not. The bond among them was strong and unshakeable.

Besides being the anchor of a large extended family, Ariel was a devoted and active United Methodist Woman. She proudly served her home church, St Mark’s, in Mobile, Alabama for over 40 years in many capacities: she answered the church phone several times weekly for decades, was President of the St. Mark’s UMC Women’s group, attended Sunday School, church services, assisted with special events and celebrations – and to the delight of church dinner goers and the Wednesday Lunch Bunch, prepared her home-made fruit salad with poppy seed dressing, presented it in a huge silver bowl for more occasions that can be counted.

Ariel’s focus all of her adult life was on husband, home, family and church. To remember and honor her as a true disciple of Christ; a beloved wife, mother/grandmother/great grandmother; and a compassionate and wise woman, whose counsel was valued by family, friends and acquaintances is the greatest gift we can offer to her. She was, in fact, a strong, loving, devoted spouse and the heart of an extended family who will always love and cherish their memories of her. We offer this tribute to her at the time of her passing with the clear knowledge that it is not enough. By God’s grace we will all grow to be a credit to her sacrifice, her devotion and her love.

The visitation will be Friday, June 24, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at Radney Funeral Home, Mobile. The funeral service will be held Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mark United Methodist Church. Interment will be held Monday at 1:00 p.m. at Greensboro Cemetery in Greensboro, Alabama. Rev. Matt O’Reilly will officiate. Condolences may be offered online at www.radneyfuneralhome-mobile.com.