Ethelene (Gamble) Williford

Ethel Williford, of Waco, passed away peacefully on January 30, 2024 at the age of 97 surrounded by her family.  A Memorial Service in her honor will be at 2:00pm, February 10, 2024 at First Baptist Church of Comanche. Ethelene Gamble was born on October 6, 1926 in Jefferson County, Alabama to June and Blanche Gamble.  She was the 5th of 7 children.  She is survived by her children, Greg Williford and wife Joan, Tony Williford, Todd Williford and wife Pam, Nancy Williford Goebel (primary caregiver) and husband Marvin, her youngest sister Inez Whitehead from Huntington Beach, California, her 5 grandchildren Jason Lucas, Nikki Williford Burchett, Toby Williford, Tyler Williford, Adrian Williford, and 14 great grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ethel was an adventurer that held her faith, family, and friends close to her.  She worked at the Pentagon after high school graduation, along with her sister Elsie.  She was an excellent typist and earned awards for her proficiency in typing and mastery of the Gregg Shorthand.  At 91, she could still take down the words of songs as they were being sung.  She vacationed throughout Europe and the USA with her children, Greg and Nancy.  She travelled the highways religiously to watch her great grandchildren play all sports and countless games up until January of this year.  Everybody was always so excited for her to be there.

Ethel and her husband raised their children in California.  They moved to Waco in 1976 and remained there until their deaths.

Ethel retired from the Texas Department of Human Resources at the age of 70.  She was married to her husband, Leroy Williford, for 50 years.  To celebrate that milestone, they travelled the Alcan Highway to Alaska to the Top of the World.  They stopped and visited old friends along the way.

Ethel was an inspiration to all that knew her.  Her witty and fun sense of humor was like no other, constantly joking and having fun.  Her incredible smile was truly one of a kind and always lit up every room.  She just made others feel comfortable.  People would often call her to ask how to spell various words and ask her for the definitions.  She was a walking, talking dictionary.  She will be dearly missed by the multitude of family and friends that sought out her counsel and common sense knowledge.