David Franklin Williams

David Franklin Williams passed away September 18th 2015, at the age of 96 in Las Cruces, NM. David was a true child of the west, born September 12th 1919, at Mill Iron Ranch, Windy Hollow, Wyoming. He lived on a 55 thousand acre ranch with his Grandfather and road his horse to a rural schoolhouse. He later moved to Denver with his mother and stepfather and went to Englewood high school. David met his wife of 68 years, Martha Williams, at the University of Colorado in Boulder where he earned a degree in Chemical Engineering. They married September 27th 1941. David first worked at Colorado Fuel and Iron as a metallurgist, producing 80% of the nations railroad steel. David later joined the Bureau of Mines and contributed significantly to the war effort, pioneering the process of making aluminum from clay, needed for airplanes. He also worked to separate uranium from carnotite, a project later taken over by scientists at Los Alamos for use on the Atomic Bomb. In 1944, David served in the US Navy in the Pacific on the island of Guam. He then returned to the US Bureau of Mines in Salt Lake City and family life. In 1948 the Williams moved to Houston, Texas where David worked for 25 years at Champion Papers as the Principle Process Engineer. After retiring he and Martha moved to San Antonio, TX, where he devoted his life as full-time business manager and lay mission leader in the Episcopal Church. He was also involved in the healing ministry and led prayer groups in their home. In 2012 he moved to Las Cruces to live with family. He spent many happy hours with his great-granddaughters. Always a son of the West, David enjoyed riding horses, backyard wildlife, fly-fishing, and reading westerns and mysteries. He also enjoyed owning companion pets, watching football and golf. David is survived by children Perry Louise Lane, (Richard Lane), Kathy Susan Fisher, (Dr. James T. Fisher), grandchildren, Wendy Lane Cook, (Monty Cook), Todd Fisher, (Chris Watts), Jenifer Lane, (David Hollander), Derek Fisher, (Jaime Fisher), Jeremy Fisher, (Darya Liser), great-grandchildren, Emma Cook, Katie Cook, Izaak Hollander, Mia Fisher, Moses Hollander, Lyla Fisher, and Juno Fisher, brother Tom Myers, cousin Roy Lilley, daughter in spirit Maria Devlin, and beloved companion poodle, Lilli. David is preceded in death by his wife, Martha Williams, March 30th 2009, his parents, sister, and a brother. A funeral service is scheduled for September 20th, 2015, High Noon, Saint James Episcopal Church Las Cruces, NM with Officiant, Reverend Dr. Nicholas Funk. Honorary Pallbearers, Dr. James T. Fisher, Todd Fisher, Derek Fisher, Jeremy Fisher. Place of interment, Saint George Episcopal Church San Antonio TX.