Obituary for
Diane Ruth Williams (Quackenbush)
Loving wife and mother
October 29, 1947 - May 27, 2016
Diane Ruth Williams, 68, of Medford, Ore. passed away May 27, 2016 as a result of a long battle with lung cancer. Her final days were spent surrounded by family when she drifted off to be with the Lord. Diane was born on October 29, 1947 in Kalispell, Mont. Her father and mother were Tyler and Alice Quackenbush.
She met future husband, Chuck Williams on a blind date in 1964, while she was a senior at Holy Redeemer High School in Kensington, Md. The couple was married May 30, 1966.
Diane lost both of her parents in 1998. Also in that year, she was diagnosed with lung cancer. The best option was to have the lung removed. Ten years later she was diagnosed with lung cancer again. Her strong will to live, her unwavering faith in God, and the love and prayers of family and friends and many supporters carried her through eight more years. Yet, even throughout her own struggle with cancer, she reached out to others affected by the horrendous disease in many ways. She drove cancer patients to their appointments for the American Cancer Society, talked with other survivors on the phone and reached out to survivors on the internet in chat rooms.
Diane’s interests over the years included horseback riding, playing cards, reading many books, watching good movies with a bag of popcorn, being an animal lover, crocheting, and RVing with Chuck. However, her main interest was spending time with family and friends.
Diane was a legal secretary for 22 years. Diane and Chuck started PacWest Plumbing in 2002 and Diane retired in 2014.
Diane was adopted on October 29, 1947. In April of this year, she was reunited with her birth-mother. She was also reunited with two sisters who didn’t know of her existence until three weeks before their visit. They were a joy and blessing for Diane and her family in her final days.
Diane is survived by her beloved husband of 50 years, Charles Williams; her sons, Charles Williams III of Portland, Ore., David (Andreanna) Williams of Redding, Calif., and Christopher Williams of Medford, Ore.; birth-mother, Marie McComas of Mount Vernon, Wash.; sisters, Sherri (Ted) Cole of Sedro-Woolley, Wash. and Christy (Steve) Smiley of Birch Bay, Wash.; brother, Michael (Marsha) McComas of Leavenworth, Wash.; seven grandchildren; one great-grandson; and many nieces and nephews. Diane was preceded in death by her mother and father, Alice and Tyler Quackenbush; birth-father, Robert McComas; and brother-in-law, Ted Cole. Diane’s birth mother passed July 25, 2016.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul.
October 29, 1947 - May 27, 2016
My cherished wife and friend,
Ours is a love that deepened through the years, and it’s a love that will never end.
Thank you for being the kind of wife and mother, who blessed our home and family, by doing special things for each one of us, and loving us unconditionally.
You watched over us in good times and bad.You honored every wedding vow, as you cared for us in sickness and in health, and we feel lost without you now.
It’s so hard to realize that life has changed, and it will never be the same again. As I face a lonelier future ... without you, dearest wife and friend.
I can only feel to honor you, to be grateful for all the memories
That you lovingly created throughout the years.
-Charles Williams
