This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: Williams, Moore, Mahan, Wiseman, Schaefer, Bell, Renfrow, Grant, Renz, Molina Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JW.2ADE/7673 Message Board Post: Bakersfield Californian Deaths & obits- 2001 Surname: Williams Given name: Lyle Everett Newspaper Date: 7/11/2001 Type: obituary Requested by: kkmarynik@hotmail.com Bakersfield Californian, Wednesday, July 11, 2001 ~FUNERALS~ Lyle Everett Williams Services: Fri., July 13, 10 a.m. A Celebration of Life Service will be held Friday July 13, 2001 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Congregational Church in Wasco for Lyle E Williams. Rev. Mike Bradley and Rev. William Fox will officiate the service and Interment will follow at Wasco Memorial Park. Lyle was born October 11, 1905 in Auburn, CA to John and Mabel Moore Williams. He died July 6, 2001 in San Luis Obispo, CA, after a short illness. He held his first job, at age twelve, in Panoche, CA in a magnesite mine. He also worked on ranches, was a fireman on the "Klamath Queen" Dredger and he hunted Mountain Lions, to help his parents and siblings during the Great Depression. In 1922 he installed Diesel Engines at the power Generating plant in Tonopah, Nevada. While in Tonopah he was also a Clerk Operator for Western Union, where he became good friends with "Death Valley Scotty", Alice Faye and Douglas Fairbanks. Upon returning to California, he became partners with his friend Harry Wilkinson in a Water Well Drilling business in Gilroy. In 1929 he married Vivian Mahan in Santa Cruz, CA and they had one son, Hugh. In 1936, Harry and Lyle expanded their Well Drilling business to Wasco, CA. He eventually owned his own drilling co. and was in business for over 55 years! . In 1945 Lyle married Ruth M. Wiseman at Minter Field, CA and they were married until her death in 1984. Lyle was one of the Founders of the California Drilling Contractors Association and was President in 1968. He served on the Board for 20 years. During this time the name of the Association changed to the California Ground Water Association. Lyle was also a member of the First Baptist Church in Wasco and The First Congregational Church in Shafter. Lyle and Ruthie supported numerous Missionary's and students with monetary help throughout their lives. He was preceded in death by his son, Hugh Leslie Williams, his loving wife, Ruthie M. Williams, his parents, 6 sisters and 2 brothers. He is survived by his devoted daughter-in-law and son-in-law, Georgia and Bill Schaefer of Los Osos, CA; his loving grandchildren Kelly and Michele Williams of Pueblo, CO; Laurie Williams of Bakersfield, CA and Maridee Williams Bell of Morro Bay, CA. Sisters, Mabel Renfrow of Hollister, CA and Ruby Grant of Wasco, CA. Devoted sister-in-law and brother-in-law Nina and Robert Renz of Hollister, CA. 5 great grandchildren, Christopher Williams, Stephanie, Allison and Nicholas Molina and Alexa Bell. Donations may be made to Hume Lake Christian Camps, Youth Scholarships, 5545 E. Hedges, Fresno, CA 93727 Peters Funeral Home, Wasco Sharon Kern Co Volunteer