Charles Raymond Williams

Ray is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Josephine Francesca (Perrone) Williams. He was father to Geraldine Mercante and her husband Antonio Mercante, Kathleen Williams (deceased) and Marlene Williams. He was grandfather to Charlene Osler, Caterina Mercante Zim and her husband Jacob Zim, Angelica Ghiselli Perry and her husband Kristofer Perry, Alessandra Ferris and her husband John Ferris, Stefania Mercante, Victoria Giacomazzi and Richard Paul Giacomazzi II. He was great grandfather to Kayla Degraw, Douglas Storms York, Alessandra Samantha Perry, and the twins Massimo Zim and Lorenzo Zim. He was brother-in-law to Gerald Perrone and uncle to Jessica Perrone. He was born to Eleanor and Charles Williams on June 5, 1932 in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was brother to Virginia Wengerter (deceased) and her husband John Wengerter, Leonard Williams (deceased) and his wife Alice Williams, and Thomas Williams. He was uncle to many nieces and nephew. He played football at Memorial High School in West New York, New Jersey. He was a star running back and contributed to his team winning the New Jersey State Championship in 1949. He earned All County Player honors and set a county scoring record as a place kicker .His nickname was “The Pope”, because he always made the Sign of the Cross at the beginning of each game. Coach Al Davis was a scouting for Adelphi and he awarded Ray a football scholarship to play on Al’s team at Adelphi University in New York State. During the Korean War he joined the Army and was in Officer’s Candidate School and was again selected by Al Davis and he played football on the Army team at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He went on to attend Tampa University and received a B.A. in Business Administration. He worked in the electronics industry in Silicon Valley as a Vice President for Marketing and a Government Contracts Administrator. He assisted his wife in the construction and development of Willow Heights Mansion in Morgan Hill and Sea Nymph Vineyards on Sherman Island, and after retiring from Silicon Valley he took an active part in the Special Events at both locations. Friends and family are invited to visit Friday, December 7th from 5 to 9 pm at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 N Winchester Blvd.; where the Funeral will be Saturday, December 8th at 11 am. Entombment will be Monday, December 10th in Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.