Richard Raymond Williams

Dick was born on 17th of July 1934 in Wilmington, DE to Richard R. Williams and Winifred Jones Williams, who resided in Philadelphia, PA where his father taught High School English.

He graduated from Middle Township High School in Cape May Court House, NJ followed by Cornell University with a bachelor’s degree in hotel administration and from Boston University with a master’s degree in business administration and from the US Army Command and General Staff College.

Dick entered military service in 1957 at Fort Lee, VA and retired in 1982 at Fort Monroe, VA with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel after more than 25 years of active duty. He served at Fort Lee, Know, Leavenworth, and Monroe in Chicago with the Army Food Service Center and in Boston advising the Massachusetts Army National Guard. In overseas tours he was in Korea, Panama Canal Zone, Vietnam and Germany. He held command positions in Korea, at Fort Know, KY and at Fort Lee, VA and logistical staff positions elsewhere.

During his career he was awarded the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Meritorious Unit Commendation – three awards, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with one Silver and one Bronze Service Star, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and Vietnam Campaign Medal.

His travels during and after military service took him to Canada, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Luxembourg, Swede, France, Spain, England, Wales, Scotland, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Vietnam, Australia, Okinawa, Thailand, Pakistan, Turkey, Greece, Italy and Morocco.

Dick married Mary Harrison Powell of Petersburg, VA in 1961 and the couple had two sons, Richard R. Williams III and John P. Williams, both now retired Marine Corps officers. The marriage sadly, ended in divorce in 1980.

In 1982 Dick married Ilse Elisabetha Guender of Karlsruhe, Germany a consular officer at the German Consulate in Boston. When Ilse was transferred to the German Consulate in Naples, Italy, Dick, now retired and already a seasoned traveler, was soon packed and ready to go. Four years in Italy ended with a transfer to the German Consulate in New York city, after which Ilse retired. From then on, amid growing happiness, the two adventurous retirees traveled here and abroad, and finally made their way to Texas.

Dick joined many organizations before, during and after his military service. The Cornell Society of Hotelmen, Fort Knox Hunt Club, Fort Leavenworth Hunt club, Fort Monroe Yacht Club, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assoc., Quiet Birdmen, Experimental Aircraft Assoc., Lampasas Pilots Assoc., United Flying Octogenarians, Welsh American Genealogical Society, Armstrong Clan Assoc., Toastmasters, Mercedes-Benz Club of America, the Military Officers Assoc. of America, and in 2017 was awarded the “Wright Brothers ‘Master Pilot’ Award by the FAA.

He had many interests in life – some growing from childhood activities, others by his then current locations. Introduced his sons to hiking, camping, flying and sailing, crewed 52 foot yawl, built a Moth class sailboat, owned and sailed a 30 foot Tahiti ketch, owned and rode horses, owner and piloted airplanes, managed an officer’s club, took up classic guitar, researched his ancestors, enjoyed public speaking and carefully tended the homestead.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents and his younger brother Arthur.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Ilse Williams of Lampasas County, TX, his sons Richard of Avon, CT, John and his wife Rosemary of Annapolis, MD and nephews Arthur Williams and his wife Lisa of Halifax, PA, Michael Williams Scott Williams, and Lansing Williams of Cape May, NJ.

Memorials may be made to Wounded Warrior Project.

Crawford Bowers Funeral Home of Copperas Cove is in charge of arrangements.