Lewis Monte Williams, 1931-2015
Lewis Monte Williams, owner of Joseph’s Bi-Rite Market in Bishop and Lone Pine, passed away on November 8, 2015 at the age of 84 at the Holy Cross Medical Center in Mission Hills, CA surrounded by his family.
Born on October 29, 1931, the youngest of four boys, he spent his early education years in Ventura until the 11th Grade. In his Senior year he transferred to Nordhoff High School in Ojai, CA, where he graduated in 1950. During his senior year of high school, his mother passed away and his father remarried. It was while attending high school that he started his career in the grocery business at Ojai Valley Grocery.
Monte Williams and wife Cora Williams.
Monte was drafted into the United States Army during the Korean War and served as a front line cook, and was honorably discharged at the war’s end. Returning to Ojai, he continued his grocery career at Ojai Valley Grocery. He loved racing drag cars and owned the first corvette in Ventura in 1955. Part of the Williams Brothers racing team in 1954, he was not with them when they set a world land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats for B Roadsters because, after having only just returned from Korea, he had no desire to camp out for a week on the salt flat.
While living in Ojai, he met his future wife and the love of his life, Cora, at Bank of America. They married after a year-long courtship on October 13 in Las Vegas at The Little Chapel Around the Corner. He continued working in the grocery business. Monte and Cora raised their five children: Marty, Lorie, Larry, Lisa, and Mona in Ojai before moving and bringing his family to Bishop in 1969 where he worked at Joseph’s Bi-Rite Market. The Bishop area was one of the family’s favorite vacationing spots. He and Cora purchased Joseph’s Bi-Rite Market in May 1976 and it was always a family business. All five of their children, as well as most of their children’s spouses and grandchildren, have worked at the market.
Monte was well-known as a bighearted supporter of the community and he donated to many local causes. He was always a top buyer at the Jr. Livestock Auction held at the fair grounds every year and donated generously to The Salvation Army, The Bishop Little League, Eastern Sierra Softball, AYSO, local schools, the Boys & Girls Scouts of America, charity runs/walks, 4-H & FFA, The Elks Club and the NIH Ladies Auxiliary. Monte also really enjoyed his corvettes and driving in the Bishop Homecoming ceremonies at Bishop Union High School.
He and wife Cora enjoyed camping, dancing, and going on cruises. A favorite yearly trip also included “Hot August Nights” in Reno, where he indulged his love of classic cars. He was a loving husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.
Monte is survived by his wife Cora and his five adult children, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A viewing will be held on Friday, November 27 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Brune Mortuary, located at 325 W. Elm St, Bishop, CA. The service will be held on Saturday, November 28 at 11:00 a.m. at The First United Methodist Church, 205 N Fowler, Bishop, CA. He will be buried at East Line Street Cemetery with a Celebration of Life to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in honor of Monte to Northern & Southern Inyo Hospitals Ladies Auxiliary’s Equipment fund.
