Tom Williams

Tom Wilson Williams 84, died Sunday November 1st, 2009 at Mesilla Valley Hospice, La Posada. He was born June 11, 1925 in Wuchow, China to the late Celia Pemberton Williams and Tiffany Bernard Williams. His early years were spent in Wuchow, Swatow and Hong Kong where he attended British schools. In 1936, he came to the United States and graduated from Ruskin High School in suburban Kansas City, Missouri in 1942. He immediately enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and served from 1942 through 1945 in the South Pacific. After several years of college in Missouri, he returned to the Marine Corps and was commissioned a 2nd Lt. in 1951 at Quantico, Virginia. In Korea, he served as an aerial spotter for the U.S. Navy and was awarded several Air Medals for his actions. He subsequently served in Vietnam as the Commanding Officer of the Supply Depot at Danang and received the Bronze Star while there. After retirement in 1968 as a Lt. Colonel, he became a teacher and later a Middle School Principal in New Jersey and Arizona. His degrees included a BS in Military Science from the University of Maryland, a MS in Management from the US Naval Post Graduate at Monterey, California and a MEd in Educational Administration from the University of Arizona. His many and varied hobbies included flying. Table Tennis, Horseshoe Pitching and Duplicate Bridge. He was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilot's Association, a Bronze Lifemaster in Bridge, an Arizona State Class Champion in Horseshoe Pitching, and an Arizona Senior Doubles and Class A Senior Singles Champion in Table Tennis. On March 6, 1954 he married Dolores Gutoski of Bremerton, Washington and together they proudly raised two sons: Jon Thomas Williams of Rio Rancho, New Mexico and Tod Bernard Williams of Ely, Nevada. He leaves behind his wife, his sons and their wives, Rhonda of Rio Rancho and Amy of Ely, and four grandchildren, Jenna, Thomas, Matthew and Danuel. At his request, there will be no services. PDF Printable Version