Victoria Marie McWilliams

Victoria Marie McWilliams, 67, of Leland, NC, passed away early on the morning of September 9, 2023, at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center.

Victoria was born April 12, 1956 in Corpus Christi, TX. She was the oldest of four children of Lieutenant Commander Clyde Mark Hippard USN (Ret.) and Gladys Marie Ingham Hippard. She lived in many places with her original Navy family, arriving at Gulf Breeze, FL for her high school and college years.

She married Hugh Newton McWilliams at the Naval Air Station Pensacola Chapel in June 1976. They lived in Pensacola, FL, and then Corpus Christi, TX briefly. They repeatedly lived in San Jose, CA and NAS Barbers Point, HI, and multiple locations in northern Virginia during several military tours, before retiring to Leland, NC.

Growing up, Victoria loved to sew her own clothes and often babysat her two youngest siblings. With her, family always came first. She sought out family gatherings, planned them, and prepared unbelievably delicious meals for everyone.

She volunteered for many years at the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society at NAS Barbers Point, HI, and at Marine Corps Base Camp LeJeune. As the wife of a squadron commander, she supported hundreds of Navy families, especially when the squadron was deployed. Victoria was exceptionally creative. She loved the arts, music, and theater. She loved the beach and enjoyed working out and exercising in the pool. She was extremely organized and always ready for the next adventure. Victoria loved to travel across the country and to Europe. She was a loving mother, sister and grandmother. She was the kind of person who made friends for life. Most of all, she was a person who you just enjoyed being with.

Victoria is survived by her husband, Hugh McWilliams, and her sons, Shane and Ryan McWilliams. Shane, his wife Anne, and sons Evan and Liam live in Austin, TX. Ryan and his husband Matthew Cassel live in New York, NY. She is also survived by her sister, Kelly Foster, of Gulf Breeze, FL, her sons Kalani and Reno, and her husband John Foster; also her brother Scott Hippard and his wife Karen, of Gulf Breeze, FL. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, Eric Hippard. 

A funeral service will be held at 2:00 pm Saturday, September 16, 2023, at Andrews Market Street Chapel with Rev. Skip Williams officiating. Prior to the service, the family will receive friends at the funeral home from 1:00 pm until the service hour.

Victoria will also have a graveside ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery at a future date. 

In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude’s Children Research Hospital would be appreciated.

Share online condolences with the family, here, in the guestbook.