Wendell M. Williams Jr.

Wendell Marion Williams, Jr. (Bud), 92, passed away on Wednesday, April 2nd in Atlanta, Georgia. He was born on May 15, 1932, son of Wendell Marion Williams and Bernice Lucille Wise Williams, of Canton Ohio. He married Mary Catharine Linville in 1961.

Wendell was raised in Canton, Ohio and graduated from Lehman High School where his father taught mathematics. He co-oped at Georgia Tech and Timken Roller Bearing Company, graduating in 1955. He worked in Chrysler’s Engineering Division, earning a Master’s Degree in Automotive Engineering, as well as Masters and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Ohio State University. In 1966 he moved his family to Atlanta when he became a professor at Georgia Tech until 1989. In retirement, Wendell taught at the University of Akron through 2000. During his career, he served on the national board of directors for the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE) from 1988-1990, was a consultant and expert witness for numerous companies and government agencies including NASA/University Advanced Missions Space Design Program and the US Department of Transportation. He was a member and faculty advisor to Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity, and elder and member for over fifty years at Rock Spring Presbyterian Church. As a member of the National DeSoto Club for over 25 years, he relished his passion for all things Chrysler.

Preceding him in death was his wife Mary, and his beloved granddaughter, Catherine Williams. Surviving is a daughter, Debra (Stewart Cauley), of New York City and son, Stephen (Anne) of Monteagle, TN, his grandchildren Elijah, Benjamin, Wyatt and Walker, sister Ann (Richard) Crossman of Waterloo, Ontario, and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Services are being held at the historic Rock Spring Presbyterian Church, on Sunday, April 13th at 3pm. The family will be receiving guests before the service at 2pm and at a reception at Fellowship Hall afterwards. Burial will immediately follow the service in the Rock Spring Cemetery. H.M. Patterson & Son - Oglethorpe Hill Chapel will handle arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of his granddaughter Catherine to curechildhoodcancer.org.