Bert Edwin Williams Jr

Bert Williams born April 7, 1926 in Tucson, Arizona went to join our Lord on May 24, 2017. He was a brilliant and courageous leader, stalwart citizen and a true gentleman. He was preceded in death by his parents, Bert and Leona Williams and his beloved daughter Lexa. At two years of age, they moved to El Paso. He had found his home. He attended San Jacinto School where he spoke Spanish before English.

Next came El Paso High school graduation and World War II. He served as a cadet deck officer on a merchant ship where he was in the Invasion of Okinawa.

At wars end he attended UTEP (then TWC) graduating with a B. S in Physics. He lettered four years of Basketball and was captain of the team when TWC was in the WAC conference. He then attended St. Mary’s University Law School in San Antonio earning his JD. He married Barbara Hamlin, his cherished wife of 67 years.

He then was re-called for the Korean War where he served with the NSA. Bert, his wife and family of three children returned to his beloved El Paso, where he was an accomplished attorney, assistant city attorney, Alderman and mayor of El Paso. As alderman, he wrote the first integration ordinance in Texas history, allowing all races to be equal. The ordinance passed with the help of the three aldermen who served with him. As a lifelong Democrat, he adhered to the belief that those in need should be helped. Also he accrued public parks throughout the city.

As mayor he believed his greatest achievement was cleaning up the lead, arsenic and cadmium contamination of ASARCO and moving those who lived in this polluted environment to public housing. His many awards included The Star on the Mountain, The Conquistadores, and having the downtown transit center named for him. Bert was an avid athlete and excelled in his pursuits. He was inducted into the El Paso hall of fame, Softball hall of fame, and won two world championships in softball with the Dautrick Jacks. He was a fifty year plus member of the El Paso Country Club where he played golf with his buddies.

He is survived by his wife Barbara, his son Tim, daughter Jamie and son in law Dieter Hundt. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Nika Williams, Whitney Harvey, Ginny Ryckebosch, B. E. Williams III (Wyn), and Molly Williams. He is survived by six great grandchildren, Amethyst, Angela, Jace, Jack, Vail, and Cade. Special thanks to Las Palmas Hospital, Margarita, and G. K.

Until we meet again, Vaya con Dios, Dear Berto. We love you so very, very much.

Services will be held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral Wednesday May 31, 2017 at 10:30 am followed by a private Interment at Fort Bliss.

Arrangements under the direction of Martin Funeral Home, El Paso, TX.