Dion Anthony Williams

Dion Anthony Williams was born on October 22, 1960 in Cleveland, Ohio to Janice Bell. He moved to Buffalo, NY in his toddler years, and later attended Buffalo Public Elementary Schools and East High School, where he was a star athlete in football and basketball while obtaining his high school diploma. He would enroll at Hudson Valley Community College and Erie Community College where he obtained credit toward an associates degree. In 1983, Dion met his soulmate, Cynthia Butts. They would become joined in holy matrimony in 1991; and from this union one son was born, Troy Fitzgerald Williams. While in college, Dion began employment with the City of Buffalos Streets Garage and Bethlehem Steel Corporation. He would spend his summers playing semi-professional football for the Buffalo Geminis and Tonawanda Cougars. He would later begin a career in construction work, working as a skilled laborer for Laborers Local 210, Laborers Local 17, Holmes & Murphy Inc., Ciminelli, and American Axle & Manufacturing. Dions love for both children and football, would lead him to spend his free time volunteering as a coach for youth football organizations such as the Inner-City Fighting Cardinals, Fruitbelt Rockets, TTFA Dolphins, and the North Buffalo Rams. He would also coach high school football for his alma-mater, East High School, collegiately at football camps for the University at Buffalo, Syracuse University, Hilbert College, and the Ohio State University, and also for local semi-professional football teams such as the WNY Dragons, Hamburg Hornets, and the 2015 USA Bowl AAA National Champion South Buffalo Celtics. Dions most prized involvement was being a father to his son Troy, finding happiness in the guidance and coaching of his son through his academic and athletic achievements including both football and ice hockey. Dion would later move to Charlotte, NC in 2015, where he spent his later years taking up hobbies such as landscaping, weightlifting, running, and biking, while also assisting the University of North Carolina-Charlotte 49ers football team. Dion departed this life peacefully at home on Saturday, December 30, 2023 after battling cancer. Preceding him in death were his grand-parents, Fitzgerald Bell and Constance Bell, and his devoted wife, Cynthia Butts-Williams. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving son, Troy Fitzgerald Williams, his mother, Janice Bell, 2 brothers, Duane Bell and Edward (Poopsie) Bell, his dear friend Vanessa Hatten, and a host of dear relatives and friends. Live Streaming of Funeral Service Services Visitation Sunday January 7, 2024 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Lombardo Funeral Home (Northtowns Chapel) 885 Niagara Falls Blvd. Amherst, NY 14226 Visitation Monday January 8, 2024 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM Lombardo Funeral Home (Northtowns Chapel) 885 Niagara Falls Blvd. Amherst, NY 14226 Celebration of Life Monday January 8, 2024 11:00 AM Lombardo Funeral Home (Northtowns Chapel) 885 Niagara Falls Blvd. Amherst, NY 14226 Cemetery Forest Lawn Cemetery 1411 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14209