William Donald Williams

William Donald Williams,Sr. died of Covid19,Thursday, April 30,2020 in the VA Hospital in Philadelphia, PA. Don had most recently lived in Key Largo, FL but had previously lived in Bel Air, MD, Stamford, CT, Fords, NJ, and Baltimore County respectively. Don was the last survivor of his generation in his family outliving his older brother, James and younger sister, Elva. Doris Roth Williams, his wife of 61years passed in 2007 of Alzheimer’s disease. All three of Doris’ sisters, Peggy Alban, Betty Doran, and Connie Willis, have already passed.

Loving father of Phyllis A. Williams, Donnagaye Williams, Barbara J. Williams and the late William Donald Williams Jr.(Bill).

Grandfather of Maria D. Rodriguez, J Ryan, Christina M. Williams, Dyanah G. Botero, and Vanessa M. Williams.

Great grandfather of Sarah, Danny, and Isabel. Uncle of 11 and loved by many nieces and nephews.

Don’s Life Celebration will take place virtually on Friday, May 8, 2020 at 11:30am.

Due to the Coronavirus pandemic no attendance will be allowed at the graveside ceremony. However, please join us virtually using the free ZOOM App. meeting id is https://us04web.zoom.us/j/8057608648

In lieu of flowers the family asks you to do what you can to stay safe and support your local community by purchasing gift cards, food delivery, and the like. Much love from all of us. A little bio of Dad follows.

A Short Biography

Don was born in Baltimore, MD January 11, 1924. He attended Garrett Heights, Poly Tech High school, and started college but after a little over one year decided to join the Army in February of 1943 to aid the USA in WWII.

While stationed in Europe, he was in several battles and campaigns including Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland and Central Europe. During this time he was injured 3 times and was a POW in Germany for which he earned a Purple Heart and 2 oak leaf clusters, 4 bronze service stars and a good conduct medal. He returned home in October of 1945 and resumed his studies at the University of Maryland.

Don and Doris met each other through their mothers who were friends from church. They married in in 1946, settled in Baltimore County. While Dad went to college, Doris worked as a switchboard operator. Times were lean but they started a family with Phyllis born in 1948, DonnaGaye in 1950, Bill in 1952, and Barb in 1954. Don always loved numbers and took pride in the fact that all his children were born in even years, grandchildren in odd years, and great grandchildren in even years.

Upon graduating from the University of MD in 1949 Don started working for American Can Company. His career took the family from Maryland to Fords, NJ and Stamford, CT. At the age of 56, with 30 years of service at the “can company” Dad retired early. They moved back to Maryland and settled in Bel Air, Harford County, MD.

Don was very active doing his own yard work and heating his house with a wood stove. He was always very disciplined regarding exercise and meal- time and the like. Once retired they travelled worldwide usually on cruises or river cruises. He and Doris were members of St. Matthew Lutheran Church. She was happy to be closer to her family again. Unfortunately, Alzheimer’s disease took Mom in 2007, the same year their son, Bill passed.

Dad stayed in Bel Air until 2010 when he moved to Key Largo, FL to be closer to daughters Phyllis and DonnaGaye and her family. He loved his daily water aerobics at Silver Shores and took pride in setting up and starting the player for class, after which he would play one of his own CDs. He had a very wide range of music from Benny Goodman, to beer garden polkas. Music he collected on his continuing journeys to all continents except Antarctica.

Don was lucky enough to stay in his home with help until a day before Thanksgiving 2019 when he entered the VA hospital. Don, a man of few words and strong opinions, finally abided by doctors’ orders to stay in the VA. He was moved up to the Philadelphia area to be by his daughter, Barb, where he passed peacefully holding her hand.