Paul "Ed" Edwin Williams

Son of Paul and Florence Williams, Ed was a native Californian, born in Los Angeles on November 24, 1926. A 50-year resident of Ventura, he and Dorothy moved to Ventura from Brea, CA, in 1964.

A World War II era veteran, Ed enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1944. He was admitted to the Naval Air Corps training program, and subsequently transferred into the Navy ROTC program at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, where Dorothy Fletcher, his bride-to-be, was studying math and chemistry. Ed was a tackle on the varsity football team at UNM and played on the winning team in the January 1946 Sun Bowl game in El Paso. On June 24 that same year, Dorothy received her bachelor’s degree in the morning, Ed received his officer’s commission at mid-day, and the couple was married in the afternoon. They left immediately for San Francisco, where Ed boarded ship for service in the Pacific, participating in the first underwater nuclear weapons tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946, at the start of the Cold War.

Following his honorable discharge from the Navy in October 1946, Ed enrolled at the University of California at Davis, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in plant science. The remainder of his life was spent in agricultural sales—as a grower, packer, shipper, and exporter. He worked in produce sales in Los Angeles and Orange County before moving to Ventura, where he was a co-founder and president of Santa Clara Produce Company, co-founder and president of Mission Produce, and owner of D&E Williams, Inc. Ed was also a long-time avocado grower in Ojai before retiring in December 2013.

A lifelong member of Sigma Chi fraternity, Ed also enjoyed their long-time membership in the Ventura Dance Club. He traveled internationally for business and pleasure, and he and Dorothy were host parents of a “daughter” from Austria through the AFS high school foreign student exchange program.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Beatrice Miller. He is survived by his sister, Elinor Brown (Frank) of Santa Rosa; two children, Randall Williams (Susan) of Vienna, VA, and Libby Toussaint (Don) of Camarillo; four grandchildren, Scott Toussaint (Laura Ann) of Palo Alto, Allison Williams of Minneapolis, Ryan Toussaint of Livermore, and Evan Williams of New York City; great grandson, Julien Toussaint; plus nieces, and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, October 10, 2014, 2:00 p.m., at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura, with The Reverend Dan Hull officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Assistance League of Ventura County, 913 East Santa Clara Street, Ventura, CA 93001, or a charity of your choice.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home.