Billy Freeman Williams

Billy was born on Sep. 26, 1921, in Idahome, Idaho, to Della Mae (Freeman) and William Edward Williams from the Oklahoma Territory.

Billy was raised on a farm in southern Idaho with four brothers and three sisters. He attended Burley High School and graduated in May 1940. He joined the war effort and enlisted in the Army as an aviation cadet on Jan. 24 1942. Billy earned his wings as a rated pilot in the Army Air Corps on Aug. 27, 1942. After initial C-46/C-47 training in Sedalia, Missouri, he was stationed at Bergstrom Field in Austin, Texas, as a C-46/C-47 instructor. During his time in Austin, he met the love of his life, Patricia Lewis Green at Barton-Springs recreational area. They married on Feb. 26, 1944, in Austin. Following the war, Billy and Pat moved to Idaho in 1946, where they purchased and operated a small 30-acre dairy farm near Boise until 1948. Billy studied Dairy Husbandry at the University of Idaho, receiving his degree in Dairy Science on June 5, 1950. Upon graduation, Bill worked as a ‘field man’ for Sego Milk Company based in Salinas, California. He also served in the Air Force Reserves and eventually reentered the U.S. Air Force full time in July 1952.

Post WWII, Billy maintained currency flying the C-45, C-46, C-47, and T-6 aircraft while logging time in the C-119, KC-97, B-17, B-25 and T-33 aircraft. Because he loved working with people and had a skill set working and repairing farm equipment, he shifted his military professional focus from flying to aircraft maintenance. Billy and family continued with military tours at Ohio’s Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, Arkansas’ Littlerock Air Force Base, Louisiana’s Barksdale Air Force Base and finally, Colorado’s Lowry Air Force Base. Billy and Pat especially enjoyed their assignments at Little Rock and Barksdale, where he was instrumental in developing new procedures for Strategic Air Command in the bomber commands’ early years. While stationed at 2nd Air Force Headquarters at Barksdale, he helped oversee the transition from B-47 Bomber and KC-97 Tanker aircraft to the newest version B-52F bomber and KC-135A Tanker.

From March to August 1945, he served a combat tour at several bases in Burma, India, flying 56 combat missions in the C-46/C-47 over the infamous “Hump” from Burma to China. From September ’63 to April ’65 during the Vietnam War, Billy was based at Naha Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, serving as the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing Squadron Chief of Armament & Munitions for F-102 and F-4C aircraft. While based at Naha, he deployed to Tan Son Nhut Air Base in South Vietnam where he served a combat tour directly supporting the Tonkin Gulf Crisis. Billy retired as a Colonel Sep. 1, 1969. Military decorations and medals include: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), Air Force Commendation Medal (Four Oak Leaf Clusters), American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, , Asiatic Pacific Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and United Nations Service Medal. After retirement from 28 years of military service, Billy earned a teaching certificate and taught Biology at both Cherry Creek and Smoky Hill High Schools until his final retirement in May 1986.

Family, college football, Colorado Rockies and Rocky Mountain trout fishing were his passion. As an Idaho farm boy, hard work, gardening, big game and bird hunting were close seconds. A very social man, he loved working with people, and, after becoming a Christian in the late 1960s, worked tirelessly as a founding member of Faith Presbyterian Church in Aurora, Colorado, and later, Cherry Creek Presbyterian in Englewood, Colorado. His days started at 5 a.m. and ended at 9 p.m. …. sharp. He was a military man through and through, loved his country, loved politics and loved flying Old Glory every holiday.

Billy is preceded in death by daughter Catherine Ann, who passed in April 1975. He is survived by his wife Patricia, sons Daniel Sterling (Julie) of Aurora, Colorado, John Edward (Debbie) of Kennesaw, Georgia, and Scott Allen (Sarah) of Highlands Ranch, Colorado, 11 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and one great, great grandchild.

He is also preceded in death by siblings Thelma Pauline “Thel” (Gelling), Cecil Edward “Cec” Williams, Evelyn Eleanor “Tot” (Phelps), Clarence Farrell Williams, Oliver Spencer “Ott” Williams, Rae Mignon “Nonny” (Hutchinson), and Bob Eugene “Cork” Williams.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to the Denver Rescue Mission, www.denverrescuemission.org., or a Veterans Program of your choice.

Visitation was held from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Thursday, February 16, 2017 at Olinger Chapel Hill Mortuary, 6601 S Colorado Blvd, Centennial, CO 80121. Committal service was held at 9:15 am, Friday, February 17, 2017 at Fort Logan National Cemetery – Staging Area C, 4400 W Kenyon Ave, Denver, CO 80236. Memorial service will be held at Cherry Creek Presbyterian Church on Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 11:00 am.