Jeffrey "Jeff" Thomas Williams

Jeffrey “Jeff” Thomas Williams

Jeffrey Thomas Williams, age 65, of Mechanicsburg, PA, and formerly of Annville-Cleona, PA, died on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at Messiah Lifeways in Mechanicsburg from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS - a progressive neuromuscular disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease).  Married on August 8, 1975, Jeff is survived by his wife, Karen Sue (Thomas) Williams; son, Nathan Lee Williams of Greenville, SC; son, Mark Allen Williams and his wife, Carrie Annette (Thompson) Williams, and their twins, Alexis Noel Williams and Aidan Scott Williams of Fredericksburg, VA.  Jeff is also survived by his sister, Faith Marie Bicksler, her husband Dave Royer Bicksler; one niece; one grandniece; one nephew; and many cousins.

Born October 24, 1949 in Lebanon, PA, Jeff was preceded in death by his parents, Robert James Williams and Mary Elizabeth (Forney) Williams; a stillborn sister, Barbara Forney Williams; grandparents, Allen and Edith Williams, George Warren and Naomi Elizabeth Forney; and many aunts and uncles.  Jeff attended Annville-Cleona schools and served in the United States Air Force from 1968 to 1972.  Jeff graduated in 1975 with a Bachelor of Arts and in 1976 with a Master of Arts in Theology from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri.  He worked in various church ministries in Illinois.  He graduated in 1985 with an Associate of Applied Science/Electronic Data Processing degree from Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield Illinois; and in 1998 with a Master of Science/Information Systems degree from Shippensburg University, Shippensburg, PA; and in 2004 with a Master of Science/Business Administration degree from DeSales University, Bethlehem, PA.

Jeff worked as a Programmer/Analyst for Highmark from 1988 until his retirement in 2010, after which he worked in 2012 for the PA Department of Revenue and again for Highmark as a CIBER Systems consultant until ALS forced a second retirement on November 30, 2012.  Jeff loved both volunteering at the Highmark Caring Place and serving on the Board of CPARC (the Arc of Cumberland & Perry Counties) from 2006-2012.  Above all he loved playing with his grandchildren.

A morning viewing will take place on Saturday, March 28, 2015 from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral service begins at 11:00 a.m. which will be followed by military honors and then a luncheon all to be held at Emmanuel Baptist Church, 4681 East Trindle Road, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050.  Pastor Steve Crews will officiate the funeral and the Cumberland County Honor Guard will present honors. After the noon luncheon, burial and a committal service will take place at 3:00 p.m. at Reigle’s Bible Fellowship Cemetery, 158 Reigles Church Road, in Millersburg, PA 17061.

In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to donate to the ALS Association Greater Philadelphia Chapter , 321 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd, PA 19002 or Hospice of Central Pennsylvania , 1320 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg, PA 17110.

Jeff’s family has entrusted his care to Myers–Buhrig Funeral Home and Crematory in Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-3421.  Read Jeff’s full obituary, view his memorial video and portrait, and sign his official guest book at www.Myers-Buhrig.com.