Earl Thomas Williams

Earl was born March 10, 1919 in Martins Ferry, Ohio. He spent his early years working in the family business. Earl was very involved in the Boy Scouts and became an Eagle Scout in 1934. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in September 1939 for training as an aircraft mechanic. After training, his first assignment was March Field, CA. Then he moved with his unit to Albuquerque Air Base, New Mexico. There he became a member of a B-17 aircraft crew. His crew was re-assigned to the Philippine Islands and departed to that destination on the evening of December 6, 1941. Upon arriving in Hawaii the early morning of December 7th his aircraft was met by Japanese fighter planes which set his aircraft afire causing it to crash land on Hickam Air Field, Hawaii. After surviving that crash, Earl went on to fly 55 World War II combat missions in the South Pacific for which he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross. Earl was given a direct commission.

On his return from the South Pacific and during his 30 year career in the U.S. Air Force he held many positions from commanding several Air Force units to staff division chief and eventually Vice Commander of the 390th Strategic Missile Wing in Tucson, Arizona before retiring on October 1, 1969. Earl's assignments took him to many places including Australia, Japan, Spain and England.

Earl was married to Lorraine Hitt from San Bernardino, CA from 1943 until her death in 1989. He is survived by his daughter, Candace Baker of O'Fallon, IL, and a granddaughter, Lara Robertson of Maurepas, Louisiana. He was married to Judith Sensenbach of Riverside in 1995 until her passing on April 7, 2020.

Private services will be held for Colonel Williams at Riverside National Cemetery with military honors.

In lieu of flowers, Earl wished that memorials be made to the National Eagle Scouts Association, Boy Scouts of America, 1325 West Walnut Hill Lane, P. O. Box 152079, Irving, Texas 75015-2079 or the charity of your choice.