SMSGT W. D. "Don" Williams (Retired) St. Marys, GA

We would like to inform you of the passing of our Dad, Don Williams, on April 8th, 2025. He was 94 years old.

Dad was born on February 25, 1931, the youngest of six children born to Erve and Julia Harvey Williams of Center Hill, GA. During World War II, Dad helped his Dad out on the farm extensively with all of the normal chores of a family farm- feeding and raising some dairy cows, planting and harvesting the cash crops, raising pigs and chickens while his two older brothers, Curtis and Levon, served in the military. Dad had three sisters-Francis, Erva Dean and Edie-two of which aided the war effort by packing parachutes. He once said there was no lonelier feeling as a 12-year-old than driving a tractor over a ten-acre field with no one in sight in any direction.

He did like some baseball. He played regularly and when he graduated from Moultrie High School in 1946, he went to Norman Junior College up the road and played baseball there, with many of his teammates being ex-GIs returning from the war back to civilian life.

Dad attended a business school in Atlanta for a brief period, hitchhiking back and forth between Atlanta and Moultrie. He then joined the newly established United States Air Force, formerly the USAAF. He wanted to see the world, and the USAF accommodated him.
After basic training in Texas and a Communications School in Wyoming, he was assigned to Patrick AFB in Florida. During this period, he also spent some duty time in Eleuthera, Bahamas, once surviving a harrowing crash landing onto the island in a C-47.

Back at Patrick he was introduced to and went on a double date with Barbara Joan Hunt, who was working at the base. He told us much later that on that date, he knew he loved her from the first moment. So, the call went out back to the farm to sell his six cows, and with the proceeds he bought a used car for the intended purpose of dating Miss Bobbi.

They were married in 1951 in Eau Gallie, Florida and lived there until 1954 when Dad was assigned to Holloman AFB, New Mexico, beginning the cycle of seeing the world with his family that the Air Force promised. Beyond the aforementioned locations, he was stationed in Japan, Hawaii, Texas, Georgia, Greenland, New Jersey, Japan (again), Thailand, England and Charleston, SC. As kids we also got to see many European
countries during various vacations. Along the way, they had three boys- Doug (New Mexico), Donald (Hawaii) and Dale (Georgia).

Dad retired from the Air Force in Charleston in 1972 and went directly to work as an ROTC Instructor at Garrett High School in North Charleston, until retiring from that position as well. Many former cadets have told me how much they enjoyed taking instruction from Sgt. Williams.

Both Mom and Dad Believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and obeying His commandments. I do not remember ever not going to church on Sunday, as well as most Wednesdays. They were instrumental in starting a church in Japan as well as two in England, helping fulfill the Great Commission. Missionaries and their families were a daily part of our lives while living in England and Japan. Dad served as a deacon in all of the churches I remember attending, however bumpy that road might have been at the time. Everywhere we went, but especially when we were overseas, they adopted, looked over and took care of singles and young couples, knowing what it felt like to be so far away from home for the first time. It would be difficult to recall a Sunday when we didn't have extras sitting at our table. Mom's quality cooking certainly never hurt the attendance figures. Dad would tell a joke occasionally but was very quick-witted in conversation. The next time the reader speaks with any of us, ask about Dads' opinion on drivers of large vehicles, his tangle with a table saw or the Cooper River Bridge Run. In 1983, Dad took on a new, quickly expanding role- Grandaddy. Doug and Kim had the first of three boys- Joshua, Zachary and Caleb. Dale and Karen had three- Andrew and Ashley (twins!) and Emily. Donald and Ginny also had three boys- James, Nathan and Daniel. Mom and Dad both considered each a blessing from the Lord. Both Mom and Dad enjoyed retirement. They moved to Summerville for several years then moved to Kingsland, Georgia. In 2013, they took on new responsibilities as great grandparents- Zach and Kendall had Tate, followed by Reese and Titus. Josh and Stephanie are raising Wyatt and Zoe, Caleb and Elizabeth are feeding Cope, Livi, Ford and Hannah Grace. Andrew and Abbie have blessed us with Piper and Sadie. Ashley and Josh are raising Bailey and Tucker. Emily and Brian bring Rhett to the table, while James and Jackie are the parents of Levi and Milo.
Mom passed away three years ago. Dad remained at Magnolia Manor until his death on Monday. While his physical health was good for someone his age, memory and hearing loss certainly took its toll, especially in this last year. While we are thankful to the staff at Magnolia Manor, the close watch care of Dale and Karen on a day-to-day basis, looking over health, finances and medical needs- along with special treats like shaves and haircuts- were of great comfort to both Mom and Dad, as well as those of us who weren't quite so close. Their sacrifice of time while
raising their own kids and grandkids is a debt that cannot be repaid. Dad's high school yearbook had a passage next to him which read "I will build my house by the side of the road and be a friend to all who pass by." It seems that mostly came true, although he moved the house frequently. After Mom's death, he told me that he counted up and had moved 34 times in his life. He said Number 35 would be the Last Move.
We rejoice that Move Number 35 has led him to meeting his Lord and Savior face to face and has reunited him with the Love of his Life, as well family members and many friends from around the World. And Mom is taking special pleasure in introducing Dad to two more great grands that we earthly folks have not had a chance to get to know.

Thank you to many, many friends and relatives for their prayers over our Dad. We hope the love and care that has surrounded Dad over the last years will be a part of your journey as well.

We love you very much, Dad, and will see you again soon enough. Give Mom a big hug for us. ~Love, Doug and Kim, Donald and Ginny, and Dale and Karen