Elgin Timothy Williams

In his youth, Tim was a Boy Scout, paperboy (Santa Ana Register of Orange County, Ca), Sunday school teacher (United Methodist Church of Orange, Ca) and camp Counselor (Osceola YMCA, San Bernardino, Ca).

Tim graduated from Orange High School. He attended Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa, Ca and became a carpenter. Tim joined the U.S. Navy Seabees in his twenties and served in Vietnam. In the service, Tim became known as E.T. and known thereafter to his many colleagues and friends.

After his military service, Tim worked as an Ironworker on many South Pacific Islands including Hawaii. He returned to Orange, Ca and worked as a carpenter. Tim retired as a Building Inspector at age 75 in Salem, Oregon.

Tim met and dated Lynda Seavey in Orange, Ca. They married in August of 1979. Tim and Lynda had many adventures together with lots of BBQs and many Christmas parties. They had two wonderful children whom he loved dearly! Tim was the best dad ever supporting the two in every endeavor, from Scouts, music and various sports through the ups and downs of life. The family continued their many adventures when they moved to Salem, Oregon in the early 1990’s.

Being quite the character, Tim knew no stranger. He loved telling stories to everyone from young to old. Tim had a knack for fixing just about anything. His family sure appreciated his talents as well as his many neighbors through the years. Tim was known to wear his Bermuda shorts and Lua shirts year-round no matter the weather i.e., the “BBQ King.”

Tim had many hobbies and one was a love of music. He played accordion and trombone in his youth. Also, Tim collected music from his grandfather’s 78’s to the latest CD’s and enjoyed playing them all! Tim was an avid reader and had a thirst for knowledge. He could be found reading anything from a map to the back of a cereal box and everything in between. Tim enjoyed hot rods and the times he spent on a race team at the Bonneville Salt Flats of Utah. Classic cars were another hobby of Tim’s. He and Lynda and eventually their children enjoyed visiting many classic cars shows and museums. He owned a few classic cars through the years. When his daughter Emalie bought a ’54 Chevy, they joined a Classic Car club enjoying their time together. Tim had a true love for trains from a very early age. When his son Owen was a boy, they put together a turbo train. They enjoyed watching the train zoom around the Christmas tree year after year. Tim was building a classic train model village when he passed.

There are five grandchildren that Tim just loved to pieces. He did his best to support them in any way he could such as attending ball games, birthday parties and the like. He always gave little people nicknames and the grandchildren were no different; Sillian, Logan-Berrie, Nate the Great, Cole-man, and Little Georgie. The kids loved their Papa/PapaCorn just as much.

Tim is survived by his wife Lynda; children Emalie Sherrell and Owen Williams; daughter in-law Emma; grandchildren; Logan and Lillian Sherrell, Nathan, Cole and Georgia Williams; his sisters Patti and Cheri Williams and brother Robb; other loving family members and friends.

““The Man, The Myth, The Legend”, Tim/E.T. will be truly missed and in our hearts forever.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to a Veteran's Charity of your choice, like Disabled American Veterans or the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.