Palestine High School Alumni Association

02 / 23 / 1933  –  07 / 11 / 1971

A Palestine man was killed and a former Palestinian was seriously injured in an auto crash in Harris County early Sunday.

Jerry Williamson, 38, 500 Avenue A died of injuries he received when the car in which he was riding ran off a Harris County road and struck an embankment. Driver of the car, Lee F. Funderburgh, 42, of Houston and the son of Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Funderburgh of Palestine, was injured and taken to Rosewood General Hospital in Houston.

Funeral services for Williamson, who was employed by Pearl Beer Distributing Co. of Palestine as a sales representative, will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church Tuesday at 9 a.m. with the Rev. E. J. Brumleu officiating. Burial will follow in New Addition Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home. A Rosary will be said at the Bailey Memorial Chapel at 8:30 tonight.

Mr. Williamson was born in Palestine on February 23, 1933, the son of the late Woodrow C. and Virginia Schwab Williamson. He was a graduate of Palestine High School and Sam Houston State University. He was a service veteran, serving both in the Army and Navy. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Men’s Society.

Pallbearers will be K.G. Johnson, Charles Becak, Jack Wallace, George Dauphin, Hector Bourassa and Robert Douglas. Members of the Knights of Columbus are named as honorary pallbearers.

Survivors include his mother, of Palestine; a brother, Eddie Williamson of Palestine and a sister, Mrs. Virginia Funderburgh of Houston.

Source: Palestine Herald-Press 07-13-1971