Doctor Donaldm. Williams

Doctor Donald M. Williams died January 31, 2013, at the Claridge Court Health Center, Prairie Village, Kansas. He was born in Geneseo, Kansas on June 12, 1924, the son of Martha and Bert Williams. He attended Kansas State University and joined the U.S. Navy in 1943. He was accepted into the V-12 program where he continued his education. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Dentistry. Following a two-year commission in the U.S. Public Health Service, he practiced general dentistry in Topeka for 44 years.

In 1948 he married "the prettiest girl in the church choir," Carol Smith. Carol was his partner for 64 years and during that time she was supportive in his dental practice and his hobbies of golf, tennis and hunting. Most of all they shared their love of travel to foreign lands.

Doctor Williams was a leader in organized dentistry and worked to promote the benefits of fluoridated water. He was a life member of the American Dental Association. He served as President of the Kansas Dental Association, the Topeka District Dental Society and the First District Dental Society. He was President of the UMKC School of Dentistry Alumni Association. In 1987, he was honored as Man-of-the-Year by the Kansas Dental Association. He was given the Rinehart Medallion by the UMKC Alumni Association.

After retirement in 1994, he volunteered at the Marian Clinic in Topeka and Meals-on-Wheels. Doctor Williams was a charter member and Past President of the Topeka West Rotary Club where he was a member for 56 years and honored as a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a 50 year member of the First United Methodist Church in Topeka where he served faithfully in many capacities. In 2007, he and Carol joined the Village Presbyterian Church in Prairie Village.

Don and Carol were blessed with two devoted children, Suzanne and Steven, a wonderful daughter-in-law, Karen, and two grandsons, Reed (Brittan) and Grant. His brother and sister-in-law, Bernard and Lois, their sons, Mark and Jay. His sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Virginia and Bill Austin, and their children, Jan (Dan) Herod, Bob (Debbie) Austin and Gary (Hilda) Austin, complete the family circle.

In 2007, Don and Carol moved to Claridge Court in Prairie Village where they enjoyed being near family, making new friends and enjoying the amenities of their retirement community. Despite his increasing struggle in the last years with Parkinson's Disease, Don's warm smile and beautiful spirit will be missed by all who knew him -- but "The hour of life has run its course and is spent" - we are blessed to have been a part of it.

A reception will be held on Monday, February 4, 2013 at 4:00 p.m. at Claridge Court, north entrance, 8101 Mission Road, Prairie Village. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, February 5, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. followed by a reception at the First United Methodist Church, 600 Harrison Street, Topeka, Kansas. Private burial will take place at the Mount Hope Cemetery, Topeka. Penwell-Gabel Mid Town Chapel is assisting with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to the Parkinson Foundation Heartland, 8900 State Line Road, Leawood, Kansas 66206 or the UMKC School of Dentistry, Rinehart Foundation, 650 East 25th Street, Kansas City, Missouri 64108.