Darren Williams

Darren Williams, 29, of Crawford, passed away Saturday, July 21, 2008 while on Lake Waco.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 25 at St. Paul Lutheran Church with Rev. Walter Albers and Rev. Joel Boeche officiating. Burial will follow at China Spring Cemetery.

Visitation will be Thursday 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at OakCrest Funeral Home, 4520 Bosque Blvd. A memorial video will be shown during the visitation.

Darren was born February 17, 1979 in Clifton. He lived in China Spring as a small child and attended China Spring Elementary School. He attended Midway Intermediate and attended Robinson High School through his sophomore year. He attended Connally High School during his junior year and finished his senior year at Connally High School graduating in 1997.

Darren participated in sports of all types as a small boy and teenager and played his favorite sport of all, football during his high school years. Darren was an avid sports fan and was a walking book of knowledge when it came to anything related to the NFL, team standings, history and players.

He was a Lutheran and was baptized on March 18, 1979 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Waco. Darren was confirmed at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Bellmead on May 2, 1993. He was very active at St. Paul Lutheran Church where in his youth, he served as an acolyte and participated in all church youth activities. He served as a camp counselor at Camp Lone Star. Darren also served as an Usher at his church.

Darren was employed with Ray Filer Construction performing remodeling jobs. He attended TSTC and MCC majoring in business. For many years, he worked as a tire salesman. He had the great gift of talking to his customers and taking care of every detail. He treated his customers like an old friend. Darren played in a band with his friends for the last several years. He loved music and playing his guitar. He had a wonderful personality and was a gifted impressionist and comedian. He could imitate anyone and was the life of the party at family and social gatherings. He had a big heart. Darren loved his Lord and his family. He was dearly loved by all who had the blessings of knowing him and his family will miss him, but are comforted by knowing that he is resting safely in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it
Luke 11:28

Darren was preceded in death by his dad, Dan Williams; his maternal grandfather, Henry Conrad; his paternal grandparents, Matthew and Leona Williams; 2 uncles and 1 aunt.

He is survived by his mother, Bobbie Reinhardt and his step-dad, Gene Reinhardt of Crawford; sister, Deanna (Dee Dee) Williams Bracciale and brother-in-law, Ron Bracciale of Hewitt and nephew, Anthony Bracciale of Dallas; brother, Dwayne Williams and wife, Denise of Robinson; 3 nieces, Brittani, Brooke and Ciara Williams all of Waco; nephew, Justin Gettman of Waco; aunts, Aunt Donna Conrad and Dianne Stimson both of Crawford, Aunt Barbara and Uncle Doug Day of Kopperl, Aunt Anna Bell and Uncle James Carpenter of Meridian and Uncle J. H. Williams of Clifton; step-brother, Gary Reinhardt and family; step-sisters, Cheryl Newman and family and Diana Moore and family; step-aunts and uncles, Ken and Geneva Bolen, Bobby and Joyce Nawara, Faynette and Leroy Shultz; very special lifelong family friend, Frances Blasingame of China Spring and good friend, Lisa Jenkins of Waco; many cousins and countless friends.

Pallbearers will be Dwayne Williams, Michael Stroud, Jimmy Carpenter, David Carpenter, Rob Ivey, Gary Reinhardt and Mark Nawara. Honorary pallbearers will be Stephen Wayne Dempsey, Cody Lee Samford, Kevin Wingo, Casey Kelly, Chris Dulock, Towne Adams, Ramon Stewart, Anthony Bracciale, Chris Collins and Rustin and Jad Tawater.

Memorials may be directed to St. Paul Lutheran Church, 1301 Hogan Lane, Waco, TX 76705 or to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105