After a long life marked by service, Col. (Ret) Vern Morrison Williams, Jr. died on April 6, 2018. Vern was born on February 16, 1925 to Isla Miller Williams and Vern M. Williams, Sr. and grew up with his younger brother, Robert, in Lansing, Michigan.
Vern was married for 69 years to Betty Mae Fenwick Williams. They met on a blind date and fell in love at Michigan State. Betty joined Vern in San Diego when he entered the Navy during WWII. Babies started arriving while Vern finished his MSW at the University of Michigan.
After the war, Vern went back into service, this time in the US Army. Vern & Betty raised their six children at Ft. Polk, the Presidio, San Francisco, Ft. Benning, Okinawa, Ft. Leonard Wood, Germany, Ft. Monroe, Ft. Sam Houston, and D.C. Vern was a true pioneer in the new Army Social Work program. Working in Army Community Service through the Army Medical Corps, Vern and his colleagues literally “wrote the book” on drug and family mental health programs, etc. He was ultimately Chief of Social Work, Walter Reed Army Medical Center and the Social Work Consultant to the Surgeon General.
After his retirement, Vern and Betty traveled extensively in a series of RVs and Vern became an expert builder of dollhouses. Vern and Betty were original residences of Patriots’ Colony, a continuum of care community in Williamsburg.
Col. Williams is survived by their children, Chris Selders (Terry), Jan Nesbitt (David), Heather Livingston, Vern Williams, Jon Williams (Sooze) and Georgia Price Williams. Also surviving are his grandchildren, Tracie Diaz, Charlotte Martin, Virginia Efe, Erik Larson, Holly Ott, John Livingston, III, Rachel Livingston, Michelle Williams Young, Alan Williams, Lydia Claar, Lisa Price and Becca Summerford and various gorgeous great grandchildren.
Per his wishes, there will be no memorial service. Friends and family are welcome, but not required, to donate in his memory, to the charity of their choice.
Online condolences for the family may be made at www.nelsencares.com.
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