Rev. Elwyn M. Williams

High School, Camden, NY in June 1940. He started at Syracuse University but enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force where he served in World War II in India and Burma as a

weather observer in the Meteorology Division. He earned the Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal, Four Overseas Service Bars, Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished

Unit Badge. After returning from the war, he met his future wife, Annette Smith, at Syracuse University where he graduated in 1948 with an AB degree. During his

seminary years he married Annette on May 29, 1949 in Baltimore, MD. He graduated from the Boston University School of Theology with a Master of Sacred Theology in

1951 and was ordained as a Methodist minister in May 1951.

He served 15 years in the pastorate in New York state, Virginia and Southern Indiana before starting his second ministry raising money for higher education at Rockford

College in Rockford, Illinois for 3 years. He then moved to Westerville, Ohio and became VP for Development at Otterbein College. His father, Thomas J Williams, was

born in Llandudno, Wales and he appreciated his Welsh heritage. During his time at Otterbein College, he was President of the Welsh Singing Society in Columbus, Ohio.

He entertained a Welsh couple who came to Columbus and then stayed with them when visiting Wales. Through them, Elwyn and Ann were able to visit a rehearsal for the

famous Welsh Men’s Chorus. At the end of rehearsal, they sang 3 hymns just for them. It was so exciting! Visitors were not usually allowed in the rehearsals.

After 9 years at Otterbein College, they moved to Oregon and where he became VP at Pacific University in Forest Grove and later at Willamette University in Salem. He

moved to Florida in 1985 and worked at the University of Florida raising money for them until his retirement in 1988. After retirement he raised money for his alma mater,

Syracuse University, in Florida until his retirement from that in 2003. In 2004 he moved back to Oregon to be near his 2 sons and 4 grandchildren who live there. In Dec. 2009,

his collection of poems, Cobwebs to Lightning, was published and he was very proud of that. He is survived by his wife, Ann, to whom he was married 61 years. Four children:

Gail(David) Bloom, Mark Williams, Tom(Roxann) Williams, and Rob(Gail) Williams, as well as eleven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

The family asks that any memorial contributions may be made to Syracuse University in Syracuse NY or Otterbein University in Westerville Ohio

* * * * * * * * * *

Elwyn Williams was born in Ilion, NY on December 21, 1922. He moved around New York state as his father pastored several churches there. He graduated from Camden

High School, Camden, NY in June 1940. He started at Syracuse University but enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force where he served in World War II in India and Burma as a

weather observer in the Meteorology Division. He earned the Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Medal, Four Overseas Service Bars, Good Conduct Medal and the Distinguished

Unit Badge. After returning from the war, he met his future wife, Annette Smith, at Syracuse University where he graduated in 1948 with an AB degree. During his

seminary years he married Annette on May 29, 1949 in Baltimore, MD. He graduated from the Boston University School of Theology with a Master of Sacred Theology in

1951 and was ordained as a Methodist minister in May 1951.

He served 15 years in the pastorate in New York state, Virginia and Southern Indiana before starting his second ministry raising money for higher education at Rockford

College in Rockford, Illinois for 3 years. He then moved to Westerville, Ohio and became VP for Development at Otterbein College. His father, Thomas J Williams, was

born in Llandudno, Wales and he appreciated his Welsh heritage. During his time at Otterbein College, he was President of the Welsh Singing Society in Columbus, Ohio.

He entertained a Welsh couple who came to Columbus and then stayed with them when visiting Wales. Through them, Elwyn and Ann were able to visit a rehearsal for the

famous Welsh Men’s Chorus. At the end of rehearsal, they sang 3 hymns just for them. It was so exciting! Visitors were not usually allowed in the rehearsals.

After 9 years at Otterbein College, they moved to Oregon and where he became VP at Pacific University in Forest Grove and later at Willamette University in Salem. He

moved to Florida in 1985 and worked at the University of Florida raising money for them until his retirement in 1988. After retirement he raised money for his alma mater,

Syracuse University, in Florida until his retirement from that in 2003. In 2004 he moved back to Oregon to be near his 2 sons and 4 grandchildren who live there. In Dec. 2009,

his collection of poems, Cobwebs to Lightning, was published and he was very proud of that. He is survived by his wife, Ann, to whom he was married 61 years. Four children:

Gail(David) Bloom, Mark Williams, Tom(Roxann) Williams, and Rob(Gail) Williams, as well as eleven grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.

There will be a time of visitation at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, Portland, OR on Saturday July 17 from 3 pm to 6 pm.

On Tuesday, June 20 there will be an internment at Willamette National Cemetary in the morning followed by a Memorial Service at First United Methodist Church in Portland at 2 pm.

The family asks that any memorial contributions may be made to Syracuse University in Syracuse NY or Otterbein University in Westerville Ohio