Donald Edwin Williams

Born January 24, 1930 in Sumner, Washington. Spent his early childhood in Ephrata where his father was the county horticulturalist. Moved to Ballard, with his mother and brother Marvin, following his parent’s divorce.

Don enlisted in the Army Air Corps in February 1947. Following advanced radio training his duty stations included Okinawa - post war radio systems command, Korea - mobile radio and radar systems, Alaska - installation and maintenance of radar as part of the Defense Early Warning system, Maryland - maintenance of early computer systems for NSA, Croughton England - managed the installation of radar systems as part of NATO Defense Command, Georgia - supervise Communications Command station at Robins AFB SAC, Vietnam - General Staff communications office senior NCO.

Retired after 21 years active duty in 1967.

Don was employed at Talley Corporation in Seattle from January 1968 until eligible for NUWES Keyport civil service position in February 1971, retiring in March 1985.

A low key adventure seeker, Don volunteered with the Silverdale Boy Scouts for hiking and camping trips, enjoyed salmon fishing, and was a member of the Bremerton Boat Club where he rose to the position of Commodore. He also volunteered as instructor at CKJHS metal shop in the student assembly of a small craft airplane. The plane’s owner said they did a great job.

The purchase and reconfiguring of an old golf cart inspired 25 years as a regular entry in local and statewide parades where the characters included a traditional clown, a cowboy, pirate, Uncle Sam, and George Washington. Family members contributed to the construction of costumes and were frequently enlisted to ride as the second character in the cart. Some of the stories run to the ridiculous as Jackie, Lauren, Lisa, and Brandyn will be happy to share.

Don did a little fruit and vegetable gardening, he wasn’t a fan of flowers, strawberries and cherry tomatoes were his favorite crops. The local crows were big fans of his produce but seldom broke through his security systems.

Don and Muriel became cruise regulars after two trips in 1997, a Columbia and Snake River trip and then to the Caribbean. 2001 was a trip through the Panama Canal, 2002 - around Cape Horn, South America, 2003 - the Mexican Riviera, 2004 - Alaska, 2005 - the Baltic region, and in 2010 their final big trip was to Egypt, Israel, and Jordan.

Don and Muriel moved to The Mountlake Terrace Plaza care facility near Lisa in the summer of 2017. Muriel died in April of 2018 after a short illness. Don lived comfortably at the Plaza as his health declined, passing peacefully the evening of June 27th. He was loved and will be missed.

Don and Muriel are survived by four children; Jacquelyn Williams, Michael Williams, Jeri Lindstrom, and Lisa Eckhart, grandchildren; Lauren Bartholomew, John Bartholomew, and Brandyn Eckhart, great-grandchildren Elijah and Jane Eckhart.

Memories of Don live on in his family.