Elmer David Williams

Though this is a sad time for Mildred Canzadia Williams, Dave’s wife of almost 68 years, she is rejoicing in her heart at the promotion of her husband to be in the Lord’s presence. He was preceded to heaven by his daughter Cheryl Hockett from Seabeck. Dave left behind two daughters, Louise Lewis of Seabeck and Patricia Williams of Bremerton, and one son, David a resident at Retsil Veterans Home in Port Orchard. Dave had a loving extended family of fourteen grandchildren and thirty great grandchildren.

Dave was born in Haddon Heights New Jersey, the son of Evan A. Williams and Ellen (Ames) Williams. He was raised in New Jersey and Florida. He spent two years serving in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression. Dave was very proud of the time that he served in the US Army. He entered the service on 1 Sep. 1942 and was honorably discharged on 24 Dec 1945. During his military career he served in England and Germany. He was honored to be stationed in Germany guarding the prisoners during the Nuremberg Trials. Dave was promoted to the rank of sergeant prior to his discharge.

It was the Army that brought Dave one of the greatest joys of his life; it was during his basic training in Fresno, California that he met Mildred Smith (the future Mrs. Mildred Williams). The first two years of marriage were lonely for the newlyweds as they were separated by WW II.

Dave and his bride settled in Fresno, CA. where they lived forty five years. He held several occupations prior to going to work for Fresno County from which he retired.

After his retirement, Dave moved with his bride to Bremerton, WA to be close to their son who was suffering from brain damage due to heart erythema.

The main thing that kept Dave going during his life was his love for the Lord Jesus Christ. After being saved in 1946, he served the Lord in First Missionary Baptist Church of Fresno, CA and then Trinity Missionary Baptist Church, of Bremerton, WA (where his son had been pastor prior to his heart problem).

At the time of his promotion to the presence of God, he was a faithful, loving member of Landmark Missionary Baptist Church of Port Orchard, WA which in meeting in the Bethel Grange Hall in Port Orchard.

One of the last questions Dave asked his pastor Jim Bennett was “will I be around long enough to see our new church building on Anderson Hill Road?” It is the desire of the family that rather than flowers, a donation to be made to Landmark Missionary Baptist Church’s building fund to help build the church building Dave was so desirous to see.