Edward Williams Jr.

Edward Benjamin Williams, Jr., a longtime resident of Baytown, died at home February 8, 2017 surrounded by his family. Ed had lived in Baytown since 1952. The Greatest Generation has lost another honorable member.

Ed was born in Liberty, Texas, on April 3, 1926, to Eddie Benjamin and Emma Roxie Jackson Williams. Ed attended school in Silsbee and Sour Lake, and graduated from Huntsville High School in 1943. After high school, he attended Sam Houston State University before volunteering for the Navy at age 17. He graduated from Boot Camp on his 18th birthday. In the Navy he trained at the University of Kansas as an Electrician's Mate and served on LST-2 in the European Theatre and on PC-615 in the Caribbean Theatre for a total of 27 ½ months.

After the Navy, he attended the University of Southwestern Louisiana in Lafayette, and then the University of Texas at Austin where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical Engineering in 1952. While at UT he waited tables at the Scottish Rite Dormitory for girls for his meals and graded papers in the Physics department for extra money.

After graduation, he joined the Humble Oil and Refining Company (now ExxonMobil) in Baytown. After working in various capacities in Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Instrument Engineering, and Cost Estimating for almost 35 years, he retired in 1986 as a Senior Staff Engineer in Project Engineering. Ed was a Registered Professional Engineer in the State of Texas and a Life member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers.

On June 13, 1954 he married the love of his life, Wanda Nelle Matlock, in Nacogdoches, Texas, and for 62 years they were lovingly devoted to each other and their children and grandchildren. He and Wanda joined The Memorial Baptist Church together after their marriage in 1954. He taught Sunday school classes, served on committees, was an ordained deacon, and was honored to serve as chairman of the Deacons in 1988. He also operated the church sound system and served as chairman of the Sound Committee for 18 years. He gave generously of his time, talent, and financial support.

He was an assistant Scoutmaster for a number of years for Troop 101 sponsored by Memorial Baptist Church where his son Mark attained the rank of Eagle Scout. He always enjoyed summer camps and other overnight campouts with his troop. He felt honored to be elected by his troop to the coveted Order of the Arrow, Scouting's National Honor Society for boys and adult leaders. Ed enjoyed Scout Camps; he spent considerable time at Camp Strake and at El Rancho Cima. Ed hand-carved and painted over 23 neckerchief slides while on Summer Camps with his troop. He was able to see his grandson Nicholas attain the rank of Life Scout and begin working on Eagle Scout.

Ed enjoyed vegetable gardening, beekeeping, traveling, hunting, golfing, and fly-fishing. Ed took a course in stained glass and enjoyed making stained glass objects for their home and for friends and relatives. He loved backpacking in the Colorado Mountains with his son Mark, fly-fishing in Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Idaho and Norway with his son Bruce and vacationing with his daughter Pamela and her family. Ed enjoyed golfing for over 21 years with his partner James Eskew. He also enjoyed golfing with his two sons and golfed in Denver, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Montana, and Norway. He very much enjoyed the vacation trips he and Wanda took with their children and grandchildren. He cherished the memories of the many foreign and domestic trips he and Wanda took together. Ed was devoted to his grandchildren and took thousands of pictures of them as well as attending many of the important events in their lives.

He was an AARP Volunteer and with his partner, James Eskew, prepared income tax returns for seniors and others for over 22 years. He volunteered at the Baytown Police Department for over 23 years. He was a Life member of the National Rifle Association, Texas State Rifle Association and the 100 Club. Ed was a Charter member of the Bay Area Shooting Club. Ed donated over five gallons of blood until he was found to have cancer in 1991 and could no longer donate.

Ed was preceded in death by his mother Emma Roxie and father Eddie Benjamin Williams. He is survived by his wife Wanda Matlock of Baytown; son Bruce Edward Williams of New Braunfels and his partner Randi Torsvik; son Mark Steven Williams of Denver, granddaughter Manon Claire Williams, and grandson Matthew Steven Williams; daughter Pamela Kay Pisani of Kingwood and her husband Louis, granddaughter Kathryn Nicole Pisani, and grandson Nicholas Louis Pisani; sister Eunice Attilia Hill of Houston; sister Doris June and her husband James Kelley Phillips of Clute, TX; and numerous nieces and nephews, several great nieces and great nephews; and many, many friends.

His family will receive friends at Navarre Funeral Home Tuesday, February 14, 2017, from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Funeral services will be Wednesday, February 15, 2017, at 10:00 a.m. in the Memorial Baptist Church Chapel, 600 West Sterling, Baytown, Texas 77520 with Rev. Randy Piatt and Rev. Alan Beck officiating. Burial with military honors will follow at 2:15 p.m. at the Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veteran's Memorial Drive, Houston, Texas 77038.

In Lieu of flowers and usual remembrances, memorials may be given to Memorial Baptist Church or to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22478, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73123, www.cancer.org

To view the online obituary or to post a tribute for the family, go to www.navarrefuneralhome.com

Arrangements are under the direction and personal care of Navarre Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 2444 Rollingbrook Dr., Baytown, TX, 77521 (281) 422-8111.