Barbara Jeanne Williams, known as Jeanne Williams, died peacefully at her home in Pacific Palisades on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 following a three-year battle with cancer. Jeanne was born on April 14, 1928 in Jackson, Michigan to Wilfred (Gus) and Myrtle Pulling. She graduated from Michigan State University in 1951 and became an elementary school teacher. She married James Phillip Williams on December 15, 1951. Jim and Jeanne lived in Jackson, Michigan until 1959 when they were relocated to Van Wert, Ohio by Jim’s employer, Aeroquip Corporation. Jeanne raised three daughters in Van Wert, taught fifth grade and participated in numerous social activities which included playing bridge, golf and tennis. She was also an accomplished painter and created beautiful portraits, still lives and landscapes.
Jim and Jeanne were relocated by Aeroquip to Pacific Palisades, CA in 1976. In 1985, Jeanne and Jim assumed the ownership of Caldelle Leather, a leather importing company that thrived under their leadership. They spent most of their retirement years in a second home in Indian Wells, CA where they lived until 2014 when they returned to their home in Pacific Palisades.
Jeanne was an avid bridge player and achieved the highest ranking as a Grand Life Master. She and Jim played duplicate contract bridge at the Beach Club in Santa Monica and at the Barrington and Beverly Hills Bridge Clubs. Jeanne and Jim enjoyed traveling around the world where they always found a bridge game; either on a cruise ship or on land in various parts of the Americas, Asia or Europe. Jeanne and Jim were members of St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades where Jeanne served on the Altar Guild and volunteered with Meals on Wheels.
Jeanne is survived by her husband, Jim to whom she was married for 64 ½ years. She is also survived by three daughters; Leslie Williams Kahn, Catherine Williams (Bando) Barna and Mary Elizabeth Williams (Pali High ‘78); five grandsons and four great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed by her family and her many loyal friends with whom she maintained lifelong relationships.
A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, July 23, 2016 at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church located at 1031 Bienveneda Avenue in Pacific Palisades, California.
AN APOLOGY: Last week we ran this notice with an incorrect photograph. We apologize deeply for any distress this caused to all the bereaved affected by this production error.
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