John A. Williams, 78, passed away Monday, May 31, 2010, at home. The funeral will be at 8:30 a.m. Friday from the Dooley Funeral Home, 218 North Ave. West in Cranford. The Mass of Christian Burial is at 9:30 a.m. at St. Michael's Church, Cranford. Interment is in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia. Friends are invited to visit from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday and from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday. Born in Elizabeth, Mr. Williams was a Cranford resident for 51 years. A carpenter, he was a member of Carpenters Local Union 715 for 50 years. He was past president of the local and served as the business manager from 1971 to 1996. He was a member of the State Council of Carpenters Executive Board, and the New Jersey Carpenters Fund Finance Committee. Mr. Williams had been the president of the Central New Jersey District Council of Carpenters, and the Union County Building Trades Council. He was the vice president of the New Jersey State Building and Construction Trades Council, and of the Union County AFL-CIO. He was also a member of the Union County Freeholders Labor Advisory Commission, and a trustee of the George Laufenberg Scholarship Fund. He was a graduate of St. Mary's High School in Elizabeth, and was a member of the St. Mary's Hilltoppers and the Cranford VFW. An Army veteran of the Korean War, he held the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze service stars, the United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. He was predeceased by a daughter, Rose. Surviving are his beloved wife of 54 years, Carmela (Cusmano) Williams; five loving children, Kathleen Villaggio of Garwood and her husband, Anthony, Charles Williams of Westfield, John A. Williams Jr. DMD of Warren and his wife, Maureen, Patricia Diamond of Bridgewater and her husband, Barry, and Frank Williams of Cranford and his wife, Sara-Britt; nine beloved grandchildren, Lisa Villaggio, Evan Williams, Mikayla Williams, Austin Williams, Kirsten Williams, Jessica Diamond, Nicole Diamond, John A Williams III, and Ava Grace Williams; and two devoted sisters, Kathleen DeNora of Clark and Marie Cozzi of Barnegat.