Captain Dan Williams

I found the following obituary in yesterday's Erie paper:

“Captain Dan” Dan Williams, 86, who piloted the great lakes for over 30 years, died on Saturday at his home in Largo, Florida. He fought a courageous battle with cancer and left this life comforted by the presence of all five of his children. He was born on May 1, 1923 in Bloomington, Illinois and lived for many years in the Erie, Pennsylvania area. He was a veteran of the Navy and the Merchant Marine and was a Captain on the Great Lakes with Erie Sand & Gravel until his retirement. Captain Dan was featured in a newspaper article in the Erie Times-News. Dan was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 53 years Millie, in 2001. He is survived by three daughters, Linda Holt (Sireno) and Brenda Trent (Mike) of Largo, and Mary Messenkopf of St Petersburg and two sons; Freddie Williams, with whom he resided, and Patrick Williams and his wife Tina of Girard, Pa. He leaves a legacy of love to his eight grandchildren; Joshua Parker, Dani Palumbo (Brian), Carly Trent, Alex Holmes, Derian Messenkopf and Zachary, Kali and Tessa Williams and his great-grandchildren, Trent and Kayden Palumbo and Jordan Parker. The Williams family is grateful to Lisa Glennon for her loving-kindness and care of our father in the last year of his life. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, March 29th, at 3:00 pm at A Life Tribute, 716 Seminole Blvd in Largo and will be followed by a reception at the home of Mike and Brenda Trent, 1888 Paradise Lane in Largo. A private memorial will be held in Pennsylvania to commemorate Captain Dan’s last wishes. The family asks that donations be made to the Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, and that, in lieu of flowers, you would spend a day with someone you love.