He is survived by his wife Ella May of 65 years, two sons – Nolan E. Williams and wife Deborah of Sanford, NC and Dr. Nathan R. Williams and wife Rosalyn of Indian Land, SC, and two daughters – Susan W. Hamilton and husband Merlyn of Concord and Sarah W. Taylor of Gastonia, NC. He leaves behind eight grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.
Preceding his death were his parents Fred and Cecil (Nolan) William of Bastrop, Louisiana and a granddaughter – Valerie Grace Hamilton.
He was a graduate of Louisiana Polytechnic Institute with degree in Electrical Engineering and commissioned in the United States Air Force. He was called to active duty in 1956 and went through pilot training in propeller driven aircraft in Kinston, NC and received train in jet aircraft in Big Springs, TX. Captain William served in Korea and Vietnam and later was a launch crew commander in the minuteman missile program in Montana. He spent most of hi working years as an electrical engineer at General Electric in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Trion in Sanford, NC. After joining Trion in 1972 he served as Director of Engineering. While employed there he received several patents.
He was very active in community affairs. At the time of his death he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Mount Holly, but most of his life he was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Sanford, NC where he served for many years as a deacon and elder. He also taught Sunday School to teenagers and later he was president of his Sunday School Class. He was a member of the Sanford Lions Club. He served a term as Club President and during the 1998-1999 year was the State District Governor of the NC District 31-F serving clubs in several counties. He as a Boy Scout leader in a troop in Montana and North Carolina. He also volunteered in the Helping Hand Clinic in Sanford. He enjoyed spending time with his family, a great source of pride for him, gardening and traveling.
A graveside service, with military honors accorded by the United States Air Force, will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday October 29, 2021 at Hillcrest Gardens Cemetery, 1508 Charles Raper Jonas Highway, Mount Holly, NC. Reverend Janet B. DeWater, of First Presbyterian Church of Mount Holly, will offer words of encouragement and hope to family and friend that gather to remember Tony.
Fond memories of Tony and condolences for the family may be left at www.carothersfuneralhomestanley.com.
The staff of Carothers Funeral Home, Stanley, is honored to serve the Williams Family.
