Daniel D Williams

Daniel D. Williams breathed his last on August 17th, 2021. He walked through life with an unmistakable swagger, soft-spoken and handsome. His charm, selflessness, and courtesy to others made him beloved by all lucky enough to have known him. Daniel was no saint though, he loved his bourbon and betting the horses, and that easy charm was often nowhere to be seen when he was behind the wheel of a car and feeling free with his middle finger.
Born in 1926 in Louisville, Kentucky, the third oldest of Emmett George and Hetty Williams' eight children (Robert, Loretta, Mike, Pat, Mary, Eileen, Patricia), his memory stayed excellent to the very end. He could recount stories of his childhood, like riding the trolley to Fontaine Ferry Park or when he and his brother floated down Main Street on a homemade raft during the 1937 flood. He served in World War II with the Army Air Forces and came home to attend the University of Louisville on the GI Bill.
He had a successful career with the Farm Credit System, retiring as Senior VP of CoBank in 1981 before embarking on his own private consulting company, Daniel Williams and Associates.
It's a good thing he was prosperous because he also had a lot of children to support. His son, Daniel Jr, was born when he was just 20 and married to his first wife, Mary. Together they had five more children Kathleen, Tim, Maureen, Bridget, and Kevin (deceased).
The second round of children came later in life. Daniel and Angela, his second wife, had fallen in love at first sight. They would move across the country several times before he brought them to Louisville in the early 90s. They had five children, Ben, Heather, Pat, Amy, and Devin Paul. Theirs was a grand romance, their devotion to each other inspiring to see. He was so worried about leaving his girl.
Daniel had a nickname for everyone, and those of us who called him Papa will carry with us always the funny little sayings and songs he loved to sing. We played those songs for him in his final hours and sang "you are my sunshine" and "Goodnight Irene."
Papa was your "Ace" you could always count on him, and we know he will be watching over us now. His remarkable life is a testament to the joy of remaining young at heart.
He is survived by his wife Angela, his children and their families, and his sister Mary Harlamert.
Private services will be held.