 BITUARIESLenawee County, Michigan |
JUDGE WILLIAMSON, 44, DIED SUDDENLY OF HEART ATTACK Stricken at Brother’s Cottage At Devils Lake; Planned Week’s Vacation ONE NOVEMBER CANDIDATE 
Probate Judge Bernard N. Williamson, 44 years old, died suddenly of a heart attach about 1:15 a.m. Sunday at the summer cottage of his brother, Charles L. Williamson of Monroe, at Clark’s Cove, Devils lake. Judge Williamson, who had been in his usual good health, collapsed while enjoying a game of cards. Dr. Benjamin Growt of Addison said that death was instantaneous.Judge Williamson had spent Saturday morning in his office in the court house. In the afternoon he had worked at his office in Morenci, and arrived at his summer cottage at Sandy Beach, Devils lake, about 6 p.m. His brother, Charles, a Monroe attorney, visited the cottage about 7 p.m. and invited Judge and Mrs. Williamson to their cottage for the card party. Other guests were Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bachmeyer of Blissfield, parents of Mrs. Charles Williamson, and Mrs. And Mrs. Melvin Michael of Adrian. Judge Williamson had planned to remain at his cottage this week for a short vacation. “Bernie looked tired Saturday night,” Mr. Michael said today, “but he didn’t say a word about feeling ill. I mentioned that he looked tired and he agreed that he was and he added that he was looking forward to the vacation. It was so sudden. Bernie didn’t say a word. He suddenly slumped over in his chair. There wasn’t a thing we could do.” Judge Williamson’s death came only a few days more than a year after he was appointed Judge of Probate July 31, 1951. Judge Williamson was a candidate for election to the office in his own right in the November election. In last Tuesday’s primary he received 5,834 votes throughout the county to lead LaVon H. Kuney and Paul T. Betz, the other candidates for the non-partisan office, by a substantial margin. County Clerk Robert B. King said today that the results of the primary election have not yet been certified by the board of canvassers. Mr. King talked with Edward Fry, Michigan director of elections, in Lansing today and also with Henry Oakley, an assistant in the Lansing office. They both agreed that, in view of Judge Williamson’s death, only the name of Mr. Kuney could go on the November general election non-partisan ballots. Judge Williamson and Mr. Kuney were the successful candidates in the primary. Other candidates can win election only by sticker or write-in votes, the Lansing officials said. In Adrian, where voting machines are used, the write-in method must be followed. The Lansing officials, however, were to obtain an attorney general’s opinion to make sure of their position. Prosecutor Rex Martin also said today that he concurred in the opinion of the director of elections that only Mr. Kuney’s name could go on the November ballot. Judge Williamson’s appointive term will expire Dec. 31. Governor Williams is expected to appoint a new probate judge to complete the last few months of the term. It will be the second appointment to fill the vacancy since the death of Judge Tripp. Judge Williamson was born in Tecumseh March 17, 1908. He was the son of Charles H. and Naomi (North) Williamson. He was graduated from Tecumseh high School in 1926. He attended Hillsdale College in 1926 and 1927. The next year he studied at Michigan State College. From 1928 to 1931 he was enrolled in Vanderbilt University law school in Nashville, Tenn. He received his bachelor of laws degree in the latter year and returned to Tecumseh to open a practice. In 1933 he went to Morenci to establish his practice and he remained there, service in various civic capacities, until his appointment to the probate bench by Gov. Williams last year. He was former Morenci village attorney, village clerk and water commissioner. He was secretary of the Morenci Booster’s Club and was a member of the Morenci Service Club and the Morenci Improvement Association. Other affiliations included the Morenci Lodge, F. & A M., the Morenci Order of the Eastern Star, the Adrian Kiwanis Club, the Michigan Bar Association, Lenawee County Bar Association of which he was a past president, the Michigan Probate Judges Association and the Devils Lake Yacht Club. Survivors include the widow, the former Thelma V. Meyers of Morenci, whom he married Sept. 18, 1932; a son, Bernard Jr., a student at Howe Military School; two daughters, Mrs. John (Joyce) VanValkenburg and Mrs. Arnold (Janis) Reister, both of Morenci; his mother, who lives in Tecumseh; two brothers, Charles, a Monroe attorney, and Edwin M. Williamson of Kalamazoo; two sisters; Mrs. E. R. (Marian) Childs of Monroe and Mrs. Arthur (Margaret) Lepon of Wilmington, Calif., and one grandson, Mark Reister of Morenci. His father preceded him in death in 1938. The body is at the Ackland Funeral Home in Morenci. Services will be held at 2 p. m. Tuesday with the Rev. Richard Gardner of the Congregational church officiating. The burial will be in the Tecumseh cemetery. Masonic services will be conducted at the grave. (Typist – Death Aug. 10, 1952) &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& 
Mrs. Thelma V. Williamson, widow of the late Judge Bernard Williamson, died at 6 a.m. Saturday in Morenci Area Hospital, where she had been a patient for the past five weeks.She was born January 26, 1915, in Wellsville to Alfred and Florence Speller Meyers. She was married to Bernard N. Williamson on September 19, 1932. They made their home in Morenci from 1932 until he died in 1952. From 1954 until March of this year she lived in Adrian. Since March she has made her home with her daughter Mrs. Arnold (Janis) Reister of Route 1, Morenci. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Adrian and the Order of the Eastern Star. For the past year she served as a librarian in the Adrian Public School system until illness forced her to retire in February. Judge Williamson, a former Probate Judge died in 1952. Besides Mrs. Reister, she is survived by another daughter, Mrs. John (Joyce) VanValkenburg of Sioux City, Iowa; a son, Bernard , Jr. of Toledo; a brother, Bradford Meyers of Adrian, a sister, Mrs. Earle (Lillian) King of Palmyra and nine grandchildren. Services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Ackland & Fink Funeral Home with the Rev. Paul Koons officiating. Burial was in Brookside Cemetery, Tecumseh. Pall bearers were Thomas Hamilton, Douglas Sisson, Clarence Slagle, Robert Gardiner, George Gardiner and John Saxton. (Typist – Date of Death June 12, 1965)
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