IN MEMORY OF ORCHIS ROBERT WILLIAMS
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An occasion like this is not one merely for eulogy of the dead, though so well worthy of eulogy. But an occasion for dedication and consecration to the best that life holds, that which our deceased friend so appreciated and sought to perpetuate. His staunch Christian faith characterized his whole life and is a challenge for us, also, to keep the faith.

Orchis R. Williams was the son of William H. and Mary Ann Osborne Williams. He was born April 30, 1877, in Champaign County, Illinois, the eighth child in a family of nine. Six children of that family are living. Two sisters: Belle Haworth of Casey, Illinois, and Lizzie Meese of St. Joseph, Illinois, and four brothers: Zeno of Darlington, Indiana, John of Oberlin, Kansas, Edward of St. Johns, Michigan, and Walter of Rockville, Indiana.

On New Year's eve, 1899, he was married to Almeda Arnold in St. Joseph, Illinois. To this union were born eight children: Mildred, Bertha, Olive, Robert, Bessie, Gladys, Orpha and Mary Louise.

To Orchis, occasions of home-coming were times of special joy and satisfaction. When the children and their families -- there are eleven grandchildren -- made the family circle in father's home complete, it was indeed a time of rejoicing. It was the sincere desire of Orchis that the family circle be unbroken "over there."

After his marriage, Orchis continued to live in Champaign County, Illinois until the fall of 1902, when he and his family moved to Rockville, Indiana. In 1911, they moved to Westfield, Indiana, in which vicinity they have resided ever since.

He attended his grandmother's funeral when he was eighteen years old. During the services, the Scripture -- "Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them" -- came forcibly to his attention and he became under deep conviction, which resulted in his conversion and consecration. He was a member of the Friends Meeting and has filled the pulpit in Friends Churches of Hamilton County.

Orchis was interested in people and had a deep concern for their spiritual welfare. Though his weak eyesight made his going about difficult, he never gave up his mission of cheer and encouragement. He visited many homes, comforting the sick and bearing the gospel message in deed, word and prayer.

On the day he was stricken, -- twelve-thirty Tuesday, April 9th, passing on the following afternoon, he was planning to do gospel visitation. A poem -- "Don't Quit" -- was found in the pocket of the clothes he wore on that day that was so typical of his life of activity.

He faithfully read the Bible, committing much of it to memory. When his eyesight failed, this proved to be a wonderful blessing and comfort to him. His public testimony was rich with Bible quotations. Though he missed the ability to read for himself in the last few years of his life, his faithful wife daily read to him and he often spoke of her share in helping him in his daily devotion. In his humble way he was learning heaven's language and its manners here on earth. That life is long that answer's life's great end -- harmony with the Will of God.

"Call me not dead when I indeed have gone into the company of the ever-living high and most glorious of the redeemed. Let thanksgiving rather be made. Say, "he at last hath won rest and release, converse supreme, and wise, music and song and light of immortal faces.'"